SAINT PAUL, Minn. – To credit back-to-back Coyotes wins to their new look up the middle is probably a misguided read on how each performance went.
Goalie Mike Smith has been terrific, giving up only three goals on 84 shots in those games. That's helped give the Coyotes just their third crack at a three-game win streak when they wrap their four-city road trip Saturday afternoon against the Wild.
The power play has chipped in two goals, while the penalty killers have been mostly steady in these past two wins.
And the motivation that undoubtedly came from getting schooled 7-0 by the Penguins on Monday was also likely a factor in the team cleaning up some of its play to clip the Red Wings 4-1 Tuesday and outlast the Maple Leafs 3-2 in a shootout Thursday.