Phoenix-Detroit Round 1 Preview

           One year has passed since the Red Wings ousted the Coyotes in seven games in last years playoffs. But what has changed since then? What is different this year that can help Phoenix get past Detroit? Three things, 1> A heathy Shane Doan, the long time Jet-Coyote captain has injured for the last half of last years series. 2> Keith Yandle, the teams 2nd leading scorer this year has taken his game to the next level and then some. Last year he had 12 goals and 41 points, this year he has 11 goals 59 points. 3> Even though Doan is their leading goal scorer with 20, they have six other skaters with 16 or more goals. Compare that do last year where they had only 4 skaters with that many goals.
            The big problem for Phoenix heading into this series is their subpar penalty kill, which finished 26th during the regular season. Detroit's powerpay was 5th during the regular season, so this is the #1 concern for Dave Tippet's Coyotes. To put this point across even more, last year vs Detroit in the first round their pk was 76.5%, and they were shorthanded 34 times, but to be fair the officiating was not terrific at times.
             The veteran Red Wings are the favorites, that is unquestionable. But Phoenix is not going to go away without a fight. Like alot of the other series, the undersdogs have the best goaltending going into the series. Ilya Bryzgalov has got to step it up in three nights, he was at times subpar but at times great last year for Phoenix. Jimmy Howard on the otherhand only has to play consitently, the Wings have no backup plan in place. Both netminders will have to deal with loads of traffic, more so Bryzgalov, as always Tomas Holdstrom and Johan Franzen will be pushing the envelope as best they can.
             The Red Wings will attempt to play an up tempo game, but its the opposite for the Desert Dogs. They will attempt to make it a hard hitting series, which after game 4 last year was just that.
             Detroit has two better than average lines, with two good checking lines. They are heathy for the first time all year, despite Henrik Zetterberg not being 100%. Phoenix has got 3 solid lines, made of checkers and some offensive ability. This will be the first playoff action for a few top prospects, former Coyote first rounders Mikkel Boedker & Kyle Turris hope to make some impact.
             Someone needs to step up and produce every night for the Dogs or get three lines chipping in frequenty. Yandle had 5 points last year then there was Derek Morris with 4 points. I like Phoenix's work ethic, Bryzgalov is a notch above Howard. If Phoenix can get a split I like then in 6, if they do not get the split in Detroit, this series will be over in 5.