Was the Coyotes’ 4-1 homestand a mirage? Was their five-game win streak merely a product of playing against subpar goaltending? Or are the Coyotes legitimate contenders for a playoff spot in the Pacific Division this season?
These questions, while difficult to answer, will provide an undercurrent to the team’s upcoming four game road trip that takes the Coyotes through Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., and Detroit before returning to the Valley late next week.
“We’re going back into Philly and that’s a tough place to play; we just lost to them,” Coyotes head coach Rick Tocchet said, referencing Monday’s loss to the Flyers in Glendale.