What is more surprising, the fact that the Phoenix Coyotes are in first place in the Pacific Division? Or their belief that they have yet to play their best hockey?

“This is a good test game for us,” Tippett continued. “If we don’t play well, Chicago’s a team that can expose you.”

Putting the false humility aside, the Coyotes have been exposing the rest of the NHL to the tune of a league-high nine consecutive victories. The last three have come in shootouts. Their 3-2 victory Sunday over Dallas [video below] may have been the final nail in the Stars’ coffin this season.

But Dallas isn’t the only Pacific Division team left reeling in the Coyotes’ wake. The San Jose Sharks, the first-place team in the division since Dec. 21, awoke Monday morning to find themselves in second place.

For a team that has won the division the past two seasons, head coach Todd McLellan was certainly singing an unfamiliar tune Friday.

“Quite frankly, if we're one of the eight to qualify for the playoffs, we'll be happy," McLellan told the San Jose Mercury News.

Tippett correctly pointed out that “we haven’t won anything yet,” but the atmosphere at Jobing.com Arena and in the clubhouse tells a different story.

When the Coyotes beat Chicago 5-4 in a shootout Saturday, they did so before a standing-room only home crowd of 16,114.

For a team that began the season facing bankruptcy and possible relocation — perhaps the bleakest situation in the league – things have certainly turned around.

“It’s fun to be in the room,” captain Shane Doan said. “I can’t stress enough how we don’t think we’ve played our best hockey yet. We’ve got groups of guys who can be better – and that will be better.

 

ANAHEIM

Teemu Selanne ended weeks of anticipation by scoring the 600^th goal of his career Sunday against the Colorado Avalanche. “I’ve felt that I have had a lot of chances the last three or four games, but nothing was going in. Then, you get one of those on a great effort from Corey (Perry) and Scotty (Niedermayer). The way my teammates have been feeding me has been amazing.” … Only 17 other players have reached milestone, and the list includes only two European players (Jaromir Jagr and Jari Kurri). … The 5-2 win over Colorado extended the Ducks’ winning streak to four. … The Ducks signed a pair of college prospects this week, Boston University junior Nick Bonino and Northeastern University freshman Jake Newton.

SAN JOSE

The Sharks’ losing streak reached six on Sunday with a 5-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. "Is this rock bottom?" said goalie Evgeni Nabokov, who has given up 31 goals in nine games since playing for Russia in the Olympics. … According to the San Jose Mercury News, the last time the Sharks went five games without picking up a point was March 1997. Al Sims was the coach and that team finished 20 games below .500 and 19 points out of the playoffs. … According to the Associated Press, the Sharks have outshot opponents by an average of seven shots per game during the streak.

LOS ANGELES

D Drew Doughty scored his fifth game-winning goal, tops among NHL defensemen, in overtime of a 4-3 win over Colorado on Monday. … The Kings killed five Avalanche power plays in the victory, extending their streak to 29 straight successful penalty kills. … Goaltending consultant Bill Ranford said G Jonathan Quick reminds him of himself as a younger goalie, except “I was a bit more hot-headed than he is.” … Former Kings forward and current radio color analyst Daryl Evans completed the L.A. Marathon on Sunday. … Center prospect Garrett Roe was carted off the ice in a game for St. Cloud State on Friday. 

DALLAS

The Stars ended their six-game homestand Sunday with a 2-2-2 record. The 14 overtime losses are a league-high. …  C Mike Modano skated Monday and is planning to join the team Saturday against in Los Angeles, ESPN Dallas reports. … GM Joe Nieuwendyk was interviewed by The Ticket after Friday’s 5-4 victory over the Ottawa Senators.

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No surprise

No one is beating Washington this year!

Canada Card World
Canada Card World Blog

Ovechie , March 23, 2010

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