Dave Tippett News

A team's bid to make the playoffs can hinge on an errant pass, a soft goal or a bad penalty.

Former Stars coach Dave Tippett ranks second among active NHL coaches in career wins at 388.

The Dallas Stars sit two points out of eighth place entering play tonight and for the second straight contest face a direct competitor for that final playoff spot in the Western Conference in the Phoenix Coyotes.

That's the best way to describe Coyotes forward Lauri Korpikoski, who has eight points in his past eight games, including two goals in Saturday's game against the San Jose Sharks.

Every team approaches the new season differently. With All-Star festivities wrapping up last weekend, the NHL season is now well past its half-way point - many teams who were picked for great things before the first game have failed to live up to expectations.

With the Phoenix Coyotes on their second extended break in less than 2 weeks time there hasn't been much in the way of news around the team this week.

Every team welcomed the five-day NHL All-Star break, but the Coyotes probably embraced it more than any other.

The NHL goes back to work Tuesday night on 13 fronts, the players renewed and revitalized by a week off in the middle of the dog days of winter, and ready to gear up for that frantic, final push for playoff spots.

The Coyotes' top five prospects do not include a forward, and while their elusive search for a high scorer who could rejuvenate the offense continues, General Manager Don Maloney likes how the farm system is shaping up.

Losing close games, including those that were seconds away from being victories, has taken a toll on the Coyotes, and reversing that trend is just one of the challenges facing them after the All-Star break.

On one hand, you have two teams that can't seem to buy a goal and would be happy to play to a 0-0 tie.

Coyotes defenseman Derek Morris was a healthy scratch a few times this season, but he has played at a high level of late.

Dave Tippett knows the sacrifice and commitment it takes to string together hundreds of consecutive games.

Troy Brouwer with a hat-job last night on three shots . I don't have a lot of time for this guy, he's up to 14 goals on the year but he's shooting at 20.3% right now, not likely to continue and he's not consistent enough to be useful for even short stretches.