The losing streak has been a team effort. The offense has completely sputtered. The defense is inept. The goaltending, not long ago a source of pride, is now a cause for concern.

In none of those ten games has Phoenix scored more than two goals. In total, they counted for 13 goals, an average of little more than one per game. Jeremy Roenick and Keith Tkachuk combined for a mere 11 points (four of those points coming in the Detroit game). Of the nine losses, seven came against teams below them in the standings. One of those losses was suffered at the hands of the lowly Tampa Bay Lightning. Stunningly, Phoenix outshot its opponent by an average of seven shots per game in seven of those nine losses.

Coyote Captain
Keith Tkachuk

Coach Jim Schoenfeld has always prided himself on the disciplined defensive systems to which his teams have adhered. But the recent pitiful play of the Coyote D must be raising alarm bells. It finds its microcosm in Oleg Tverdovsky. He appears to have lost his form and confidence. In the past month he has been a minus seven. The defence has found no solace in the Coyote net, which seems to contain a gaping hole. During this ten game stretch, four Coyote goaltenders -- but primarily Khabibulin -- were easy prey, allowing 42 goals.

It is difficult for anyone associated with the Coyotes to admit that the most glaring weakness on this team may well be its perceived strength: goaltending. Until this ten game stretch, Nikolai Khabibulin had played well enough to be regarded as a strong candidate for the Vezina Trophy. He was among the top goaltenders in wins, shutouts, goals against average and save percentage. During this losing streak, however, he has looked weak, vulnerable and tired, allowing a number of soft goals. It may just be a slump, and the most recent news has Nikolai suffering a slight groin injury. Nevertheless, his play clearly has the team holding its breath.

Schoenfeld committed himself earlier this season to resting the "Bulin Wall" more frequently than in past seasons. Khabibulin played 70 games last season and 72 the season before that. The lack of rest was clearly responsible for his mediocre playoff performances. Thus, Schoenfeld was playing Jimmy Waite every third start. For a while, Waite was excellent, and the frequent rest helped Khabibulin. Unfortunately, Waite faltered. Schoenfeld lost confidence in him and delivered him to Springfield on a "conditioning" stint. The result was that the Coyotes had no reliable back-up. Khabibulin played in seven consecutive games, lost six, and was pulled in two straight games. Before Khabibulin's injury, Schoenfeld said that he required only "three or four" more starts from his No. 2 goalie this season. If that indeed happens, Khabibulin will end the season having played 65 games. Given how Waite played against Detroit (allowing four goals in ten shots before being pulled), Khabibulin might have to wait until summer to get any more rest.

The Bulin Wall was
built in Winnipeg.

After rising proudly from the desert ash to ascend the lofty heights of the NHL elite, this Phoenix has returned meakly to earth. The team began the season with a 12-0-2 streak, and after 24 games remained a strong 17-3-4. Since then, Phoenix has played well under .500, at 13-19-6. It was probably too much to expect this team to maintain its winning ways for this long. It is clear that Phoenix is not the equal of Dallas, Colorado, or even Detroit. The Coyotes now peer over their collective shoulder to see the Mighty Ducks -- their likely first round playoff opponent -- fast approaching. Kariya, Selanne and Hebert are playing with the purpose and determination the Coyotes lack. The season that began with such promise for the Coyotes now culminates in a struggle just to maintain home ice advantage in the first round.

[Photos courtesy of the Neutral Zone Hockey (formerly the Hockey Image Archive).]