Phoenix Coyotes: What to Watch For Post Olympic Break

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Improving Special Teams

Feb 8, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Phoenix Coyotes center

Antoine Vermette

(50) and defenseman

Keith Yandle

(3) and left wing

Mikkel Boedker

(89) and defenseman

Oliver Ekman-Larsson

(23) and center

Martin Hanzal

(11) and right wing

Radim Vrbata

(17) celebrate Vrbatas power play goal against the Dallas Stars during the third period at the American Airlines Center. The Stars defeated the Coyotes 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Games are won and lost on the strength of special teams. The Coyotes power play percentage of 20.4 is better than the league average of 17.93 percent and their penalty kill is at 80.29, which is worse than the league average of 82.07.

However, the Coyotes are trending in the right way. Over their last eight games, they’ve killed 24-of-26, for a percentage of 92.3. The power play is 7-of-28 (25 percent) during the same stretch. If they were able to keep up that pace, they’d lead the league in penalty kill and would be second to only the Pittsburgh Penguins (25.4 percent) in the power play.