The Fifth Liners

It's time to grade the NHL teams' overall performance for 2014-15. The grades range from A* to E-. The only award the Arizona Coyotes won this season is Most Home Losses. The team from the desert lost 25 at home in regulation. Coincidentally they also lost 25 on the road in regulation. Prize for consistency but nothing else. The only factor that saved the Coyotes from the ignominy of sitting bottom of the standings was the Buffalo Sabres being worse on the road. Wins against Los Angeles, Edmonton and Florida in October gave fans a glimmer of hope, but it wasn't to be. Dismal performances meant that the team wouldn't even be a contender for silverware. Defensive failings saw the team concede at least five goals in 18 games. An unsustainable performance by any standard. Tip of the cap to Keith Yandle for 37 assists in 63 games.  Disappointed sad face to Kyle Chipchura for his 82 penalty minutes.  For 2014-15, the Arizona Coyotes score an  E- . Must try h...

While the Phoenix Coyotes ' troubles off the ice seem to be resolved for now, any uncertainty about the team's future was definitely not reflected on the ice. The Coyotes really brought the game to the Rangers last night, ruining Alain Vigneault's debut. Kyle Chipchura netted first for Phoenix only a few minutes into the game after an error by Henrik Lundqvist allowed Rob Klinkhammer to set up Chipchura for the opener. The Jobing.com arena gave the Phoenix keeper a standing ovation after Mike Smith made a sprawling double save to keep the Coyotes in the lead.  The Rangers upped their game but the first period finished with the Coyotes leading 1-0. The second period brought more goals, Marc Staal cancelled out the Coyotes' lead during a Rangers powerplay. The game didn't stay tied for long though, Radim Vrbata was alert to a rebounding puck to fire past Lundqvist just before the halfway point of the game. The second period finished without inc...