Sure it’s a little late and you can be forgiven for not giving much heed to the Coyotes but over the last 11 games they are 8-2-1.
So, over the next 18 games Arizona will be a much more formidable opponent for those seeking easy points in their own playoff chases.
“Even the Vancouver game we lost, I thought we deserved better,” Coyotes head coach Rick Tocchet said. “When you play at home you’ve got to be hard to play against and I think we’ve established a work ethic here. We’ve got a long ways to go, but the one thing we’ve established is that this team will work.”
On Saturday, Antti Raanta made 23 saves to help the Coyotes defeat the Ottawa Senators, 2-1.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Jordan Martinook struck for the Coyotes goals.
“Everybody is doing the little things and that’s why we’re winning hockey games now. It’s a game of details and everybody is chipping in,” Ekman-Larsson said after the win.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored the lone Sens goal as they dropped to 22-32-10.
“I think the disappointing part was the third period,” Senators head coach Guy Boucher said. “We sabotaged ourselves, plain and simple. We took [three] penalties, so we had to kill that, and when you’re on a back-to-back in the third period the guys you’re looking to go get goals have to play on the PK or be in the penalty box. There was no push in the third period.”
Arizona picked up the 20th win of the season with the victory, a feat many thought was out of reach earlier this season.
The Coyotes are 11-7-5 in 2018.
[WATCH: All Senators vs. Coyotes highlights]
Mike Condon made 25 saves in taking the loss.
“I don’t think we want to use it as an excuse but it was a pretty quick turnaround. Two games in less than 24 [hours]. Definitely puts you behind the 8-ball a little bit,” the Senators’ Mark Borowiecki said after the loss.
