head coach: Jim Schoenfeld

roster: C - Bob Corkum, Craig Janney, Jeremy Roenick, Cliff Ronning, Mike Stapleton. LW - Shane Doan. Brad Isbister, Darrin Shannon, Keith Tkachuk, Juha Ylonen. RW - Dallas Drake, Mike Gartner, Jocelyn Lemieux, Jim McKenzie, Rick Tocchet. D - Murray Baron, Gerlad Diduck, Jim Johnson, Norm Maciver, Jayson More, Teppo Numminen, Deron Quint. G - Nikolai Khabibulin, Jimmy Waite.

injuries: Darcy Wakaluk, g (arthroscopic knee surgery, out 4-6 months).

transactions: None.

standings:

GP   W   L   T   PTS   GF   GA   HOME      ROAD
 3   2   1   0     4   10   10  1-0-0     1-1-0

game results:

10/1 Chicago          W 6-2
10/3 at St. Louis     L 7-2
10/5 at Philadelphia  W 2-1

team news:

by Glenn Stahlman and Jeff Brown, Phoenix Correspondents

The Phoenix Coyotes opened the 1997-1998 season looking to improve on the negatives which left a bad taste in the mouths of hockey fans across the Valley of the Sun. Foremost, they need to win at home. After posting a dismal 15-19-7 home record last season (23rd in the NHL), America West Arena was anything but the coolest place in the desert.

One thing the Coyotes did well last season was win on the road. Their 23-18-0 road record was fifth-best in the league and propelled them into the playoffs. The Coyotes special teams also played a major role in the playoff run. Both the power play and penalty kill ranked fifth in the NHL last season and only Colorado and Detroit ranked higher in the special teams index.

Great defense, right? Not exactly. The opposing teams just seemed to skate into a brick wall behind the Coyotes' blue line. Or is that a 'Bulin Wall? Goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin has to be the nucleus of the Coyotes defense. Last season he compiled a GAA of 2.83 and finished with seven shutouts, second only to Martin Brodeur of New Jersey. Will it be enough for new head coach Jim Schoenfeld?

"...When we had a lot of penalty killing, he (Khabibulin) really made some point-blank saves. It's something he's capable of but I don't want him to have to do that every night," Schoenfeld said.

Khabibulin will have to face his opponents without all-star defenseman and fellow countryman Oleg Tverdovsky, who is currently involved in a contract dispute with team management. Coyotes GM Bobby Smith is prepared to let his young star sit out the entire season, standing firm in his decision not trade anyone who thinks another team will pay them more money. Team captain Keith Tkachuk took Smith seriously, electing to forego his holdout for a new contract. Last season's goal-scoring leader reported to the team in time for opening day.

Opening night proved somewhat successful, as the Dogs ran all over Chicago, 6-2, in front of a sellout crowd at America West. The Coyotes saw goals scored by six different players and Nikolai Khabibulin made 28 saves. Special teams stopped eight Blackhawk power plays and Jeremy Roenick scored on a shorthanded breakaway. Unfortunately, the Coyotes could not convert on their own power play opportunities.

"Hopefully this is the start of something big," said Roenick, who also had two assists against his old team.

The Dogs did not fair so well in their first road outing, falling hard to the St. Louis Blues, 7-2. Khabibulin gave up four goals in the first two periods and was pulled for backup netminder Jimmy Waite, who proceeded to allow three more goals in the third. Again, the Coyotes' power play was held at bay, leaving Schoenfeld wondering when his special teams would go on the offensive.

Drake, Janney Bring Doom to Philly

After a shaky 1-1 start, Coyotes' fans had to be thinking the worst as their team skated into CoreStates Center to take on the defending Eastern Conference Champion Philadelphia Flyers. This game had all the makings of a potential blowout. The Flyers, who are bigger, stronger and faster than the entire league looked to face-off against a shaken Coyotes team still looking for an identity. It was David and Goliath on ice, and just like in biblical times, the giant fell. The Coyotes peskiness and relentless attack proved to be the difference, as the Flyers never found their offensive game. An early first period goal by Rod Brind'Amour was all Philly could muster, and the Dogs perseverance paid off. Craig Janney lit the lamp at 4:24 of the second period, knocking in his own rebound after taking a feed from the corner by Dallas Drake. Janney, known more for his passing skills than his goal scoring, elected to shoot the puck and stayed with it, beating Garth Snow and an army of Flyers in front of the net.

The score remained tied throughout a game riddled by poor officiating from referee Dan Marouelli. Thankfully the penalty calling did not effect the score, as both teams went 0-fer on the power play. The Coyotes killed all nine Flyer power plays, including two five-on-three disadvantages. Unfortunately for Phoenix, they too were unable to capitalize on nine power-play opportunities. Thus far this season the Coyotes are a whopping 0-16 when skating with the man advantage.

It wasn't until 9:29 of the third period that the tie was broken, and it was one of the Coyotes unsung heroes who broke the knot. Dallas Drake took a neutral-ice pass from Craig Janney and started a two-on-one with Keith Tkachuk. Flyer defenseman Chris Therrien played it perfectly, taking away the pass, but Drake beat Snow between the pads for the game winner.

"It was a big play at the end of a long, hard shift," said Coach Jim Schoenfeld. "It all started, though, with a fantastic play by Craig Janney. That was a beautiful play by both of them."

The goal was Drake's second of this young season, and his first since being promoted to the number one line.

"I wanted to pass it...(Tkachuk) doesn't miss to many of those," said Drake. "I didn't have much of a pass so I put my head down and took the shot."

Goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin more than did his part, making 27 saves and even standing on his head on more than one occasion to stuff the Flyers.

"You can't say enough about Nikki. He speaks for himself," said Drake. "This is a big boost for us, especially after that last game we played. It proved to us we can bounce back from bad games."

New Dogs in the Pound

The 1997-1998 season has brought some changes to the Phoenix Coyotes roster. The biggest name missing from the list is also the shortest, Don Hay. General manager Bobby Smith picked his scapegoat just days after Anaheim handed his Coyotes an early exit from the playoffs, firing the franchise's first-ever head coach. Smith then picked longtime Washington Capital boss Jim Schoenfeld to help push the Dogs into the Stanley Cup Playoffs' second round for the first time.

Most well known for his fiery attitude and the physical style of hockey he professes, Schoenfeld was also a gritty player in his own right, tallying 1,132 penalty minutes in 13 seasons with Buffalo, Detroit and Boston. In 1974-75 season Schoenfeld was named the youngest team captain in league history at the time with the Sabres. He finished third in the voting for the Norris Trophy that year, amassing a franchise record +60 plus/minus rating.

After adding a gritty, physical-style head coach, the Coyotes needed to replace their most physical player, right wing Kris King, who left for Toronto in the off season. They found their man in rogue veteran Rick Tocchet. Tocchet, who has played for six different teams in his 13-year career, came over from Boston as a free agent. He is a member of an elite group of players who have scored 300 career goals while accumulating 2,000 penalty minutes. Though plagued by back injuries on and off throughout his career, if healthy Tocchet's great hands and quick shot could light the lamp often for the Coyotes this season, as he has scored 30 or more goals seven times in his career.

Two rookies started the season on the Coyotes' roster, center Juha Ylonen and right wing Brad Isbister. Neither will see much time at their natural positions, as the Coyotes need help filling out the left side of their forward lines. Both Ylonen and Isbister spent last season playing for the Springfield Falcons, the Coyotes' AHL affiliate. Ylonen, a solid stickhandler and passer, netted 20 goals and 41 assists, leading Springfield in 1996. Isbister, the franchise's fourth selection in the 1995 draft, has elevated quickly in the Coyotes' system, splitting time last year with Portland (WHL) and Springfield and also played for the Canadian World Junior Team. Both players should bring excitement and fresh legs to the Phoenix bench this season.

Upcoming

The Coyotes next face of at home against Eastern Conference foe Boston on 10/8 and then it's off to Colorado for another huge road game vs. the Avalanche on 10/11. They return to America West on 10/13 to begin a five-game home stand against Chicago. They also will face San Jose, Anaheim, Washington and Buffalo during this stint.

RECENT LINES

Offense
Brad Isbister/Jeremy Roenick/Rick Tocchet
Keith Tkaczuk/Craig Janney/Dallas Drake
Darrin Shannon/Cliff Ronning/Mike Gartner
Jim McKenzie/Mike Stapleton/Bob Corkum

Defense
Jim Johnson/Teppo Numminen
Murray Baron/Gerald Diduck
Norm MacIver/Jayson More

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