Not that the Coyotes are going to turn into an offensive powerhouse anytime soon. This team is built to play—and win—close games, and under coach Dave Tippett's tight checking system Phoenix is going to have to prevail in more than a few nail-biters once again. That's easier to take, of course, when the goalie is Ilya Bryzgalov, whose sparkling 2.29 GAA and .920 save percentage earned him Vezina consideration last year. The Coyotes, it seems, have finally put together something solid, something stable.
ANAHEIM
Ducks
COACH
Randy Carlyle (6th season)
LAST SEASON
39-32-11 (4th in Pacific)
KEY ADDITIONS
D Toni Lydman, D Andy Sutton