Beginning their 2023-24 campaign with a 3-2 start, the Arizona Coyotes were ranked as the 11th best team in the NHL, according to TSN (ESPN in Canada).
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!After finishing 27th last year, the ‘Yotes are ranked above teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning above other teams who made the playoffs back in April.
Additionally, the only losses for Arizona were against the New York Rangers and Islanders, both by 1 goal.
Moreover, both New York teams made the 2022-23 postseason and possess arguably the two best goaltenders in the league, Rangers’ Igor Shesterkin and Islanders’ Ilya Sorokin.
On the road, competing against teams like that and pulling off a 4-3 upset victory over a NHL powerhouse, the New Jersey Devils, the Coyotes had a difficult first three games to start their schedule.
Then, blowing out the St. Louis Blues 6-2 before a 2-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks add to a good start by Arizona.
Important Statistics
*Statistics at of time of reporting from NHL.com*
- So, the Coyotes have a goal differential of +4, which is 7th best in the NHL.
- Shockingly, Arizona has given the third-least amount of goals in the league with 9.
- Also, the “Desert Dogs” have the 11th most wins with 3.
- And, in the Central Division, Arizona are 3rd place, only behind the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche.
As for now, Arizona forwards Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz tied with multiple players for 29th in the league in points with 6.
Furthermore, ‘Yotes center Logan Cooley and Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard both lead all rookies with 4 points.
Interestingly, do you agree with TSN’s rankings based on the statistics shown?
This week, the Coyotes will play the Los Angeles Kings twice with the first matchup being tomorrow inside Crypto.com Arena at 7:30 p.m.
Coyotes’ Jason Zucker out “week to week” with lower body injury
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Alec Cipollini is a journalist covering the Arizona Coyotes, Cardinals and Phoenix Rising for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account @AlecCipollini
