Howl at the Moon?

Coyotes roster

We have seen stranger things happening in the modern NHL. Remember the plastic rats in Miami few years ago?

The Phoenix fans have had lot to howl about lately. The Coyotes are playing excellent hockey right now. The team is on a four game winning streak and has lost only once in their last 10 games.

"I like the way we're playing," Coach Jim Schoenfeld said. "The way we're playing away from the puck is creating confidence for us when we have the puck. Our players are committed now, five guys to getting possession back in a hurry. I see a lot of things I like right now."

Phoenix has had it's share of controversy this season. First defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky and the team deadlocked in contract negotiations, Tverdovsky sitting out 35 games before a deal was reached.

Now highly touted prospect Chad Kilger has refused an assignment to a minor league team and has returned home to Cornwall, Ontario. Kilger is reprtedly contemplating sitting out the rest of the season.

Ironically both Tverdovsky and Kilger were acquired by the Coyotes two years ago when the team shipped high-scoring forward Teemu Selanne to Anaheim. A trade that now looks very bad for Phoenix.