Oct 4, 2013
Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
One thing was clear on opening night in Phoenix; these were not the same Coyotes from 2012. Yes, it’s true that many familiar faces laced up their skates and the fearless Dave Tippet still commands these dogs on the ice. But in 2013, the dust in the desert has finally settled. With new ownership the Coyotes can finally focus on what’s most important, hardnosed hockey.
Opening night began with the traditional introductions, first the coaching staff then the players. No one received more cheers from the crowd than team captain Shane Doan. But then a break from the ordinary; one by one eleven men were introduced to the raucous crowd as the new owners of the Phoenix Coyotes. Long have the loyal fans of Phoenix waited for their team to find ownership. These eleven men had saved hockey in the desert. As they stood before the crowd in Phoenix the fans rose from their seats and howled, and it would not be long until the fans would have cause to howl again.
The Phoenix Coyotes won the face off at center ice and dominated the New York Rangers early. With little more than a minute expired in the first period Phoenix found themselves on a power play. Long time Coyotes fans know that a power play can be a frustrating affair. But not in 2013, these were not the same old Coyotes. Phoenix did not score on the power play but they did push the puck down the ice and take quality shots to test the Rangers goalie, Henrik Lundgvist. Following the power play Dave Tippets team continued the offensive until Klinkhammer found Chipchura in front of the Ranger’s net. Chipchura blistered the puck past Lundgvist for the first goal of the season.
Twice in the first period Phoenix would find themselves on the wrong side of a power play. Neither the holding penalty nor the delay of game phased the Coyotes. During these power plays Phoenix seemingly broke through the Rangers numbers with ease. The often outnumber Coyotes outperformed and finished the first period with a 1-0 lead.
Early in the second period the Rangers tied the game with a goal from Marc Staal. This would be the only goal for the Rangers, but more important than the goal was the man who scored it. Hockey fans everywhere were thrilled to see Staal take the ice less than a year after nearly losing his right eye. In early March 2013 Staal was hit directly above his right eye by a stray hockey puck, the slow motion replay revealed a potential gruesome injury. Staal would miss the rest of the season and there were questions to whether he would lose the eye, potentially marking the end of this young career. While Staal has been quoted saying that the eye will never be 100% healed, it would appear that it has healed to the point where he can return to the ice and contribute for his team. And contribute he did, welcome back Marc Staal.
The rest of the night belonged to Radim Vbrata who would score once in the second period and twice in the third. Vbrata’s 5th career hat trick was followed by a throng of hats thrown on to the ice. A hockey tradition that left one fan to wonder “What do they do with all those hats?” Perhaps the hats are donated, or maybe the player who scored the three goals is awarded a life time supply of hats. One thing is for sure sports fans, you don’t get them back.
The Coyotes beat the Rangers 4-1, but this was more than a victory for the team on the ice. Opening night 2013 was a victory for the fans and the organization. After five long years of ‘will they, won’t they’ the Phoenix Coyotes are a stable organization with a bright future. Everyone in the organization is working towards a common goal, and these Coyotes are hungrier than ever.
James Green
James is a freelance writer who frequently works in the tech field. To keep himself sane he takes a break from tech and security and watches sports... ok, he mostly works to fund his love of sports. On off days James can be found in baseball, football, basketball or hockey stadiums cheering for all Arizona sports teams and his beloved Green Bay Packers.
