The best word that I heard to describe what happened last night in St Paul? “Disappointing.” How true. The effort and execution and understanding of the situation and the team that the Coyotes were playing just wasn’t there.

Therefore, they fell behind 2 nothing in the blink of an eye and spent the entire night trying to come back. Yes, they did, for about  10 minutes in the third, but it wasn’t enough.  A frustrating loss in game one of this trip, compounded by the frigid temperatures brought in by the “Alberta Clipper.”

Adding insult to injury? The flight to Vancouver was cancelled. A practice called for early this morning here in St. Paul before a trip back west.  A lost day in what really is the frozen tundra.

Click to hear more from Wayne:

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- Todd

Here we go … the race to the All-Star Break and it starts with a grueling four game roadie here in frigid St. Paul. The Coyotes going into this stretch without veteran defenseman Curt Sauer.  That’s a challenge.  So, too, is the game of patience that must be played tonight against the Minnesota Wild.  They have had their way, for the most part, against the Coyotes.

Here is Coach Gretzky’s thoughts on what his team must do starting tonight:

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- Todd

Finally.  At long last.  I thought it would never end.  But you knew that someday it had to.  The Minnesota Wild had defeated Phoenix 9 straight times.  It was like “Groundhog Day,” minus the “I got you Babe” wake up call…

But last night at Jobing.com Arena the Phoenix Coyotes did exactly what they had to do:score first.  It was a boost of confidence against a team that they didn’t have tons of confidence against.  And, early on Ilya Bryzgalov made some key saves keeping the game within reach.

The Chicago massacre seems so very long ago, reconfirming the necessity  for a very short memory in pro sports.  Now you know why the head coach is always trying to keep his team in a stable state of mind.

Coach Gretzky:

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No practice today.  The Red Wings roll into town on Saturday in a game you will see on Fox Sports Arizona.
Pre-game at 6:30!

- Todd

Sort of an off the wall feature, but I thought you might enjoy this take on the Phoenix Coyotes from one of my all-time favorites growing up.  Jacques Lemaire was extolling the virtues of the Coyotes last time we went to St. Paul.

This is how the feature turned out and how it sounded on the Coyotes Radio Network.  Click to hear feature:

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Hope you check out the Coyotes next game Wednesday night in Dallas to face the Stars.

- Todd

Everything that the Coyotes did right against Columbus, they did wrong against Minnesota. We knew this was possible, didn’t we? We have been told and have been telling others that with a very young group, there would be highs and lows.

This was unfortunate because they had a chance to come home with 4 points and could have leap frogged the Wild in the West. It didn’t happen. What DID happen wasn’t pretty. And the coach knew it….

Hear Coach Gretzky:

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Up next? Dallas, Saturday night at Jobing.com Arena.
See ya on AZ TV.

- Todd

All right…..so we have discovered a theme, here. This team has embraced the system of which they are asked to play.  Check out a feature that will run on the Coyotes Radio Network tonight, and the follow up conversation with Wayne today here in St. Paul.

Click to listen:

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A four point game tonight. The coach told his team not to settle on a 2 point roadie. Go for it……
See you in HD on Fox Sports Arizona tonight!

- Todd

Sometimes the beauty of just listening to somebody, rather than watching them, is that it leaves so much to  the imagination. Not this time!

This isn’t like the historic differences of opinion that America had way back in 1960 during the Nixon-Kennedy debates. Those who watched on television, scored a victory for JFK. He “looked” presidential. He had a tan. He was elegant. Nixon had flop sweat and bad make up. Those who listened on the radio, said that Nixon won. That he had a better handle on the issues.

Wait a minute. Where am I going here? I think I have over dosed on the current political climate here in the states! What I wanted to say is this: the coach wasn’t happy with the loss to the Minnesota Wild Saturday night.. Not at all. It’s quite clear as you listen to his post game presser.  There is no debate.

Listen:

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- Todd