GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Arizona Coyotes won't be playing beyond a month from now, even if they're performing down the stretch like a playoff team should. Eleven losses in their first 11 games sealed that postseason fate.
But the Coyotes are gaining something other than the playoffs under coach Rick Tocchet as other NHL franchises begin planning to take their runs at the Stanley Cup: Respectability.
That might sound like a cliche but, as the Coyotes wrap up a seven-game homestand by playing the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night, they were anything but respectable in the first half of the season.