Throw The Snake! Coyotes Withstand Detroit Barrage To Win Game 1, 3-2

Oh, you mean we’re supposed to stop the other team from scoring when they have a power play? That’s the question they’re asking over at SBN’s Winging It In Motown this Thursday morning, one night after losing to the Phoenix Coyotes in Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals.

Phoenix Coyotes fans have been through a lot, and most of their difficulties been brought on by a Canadian media that believes hockey doesn’t belong in the desert. They’ve been fueled by low attendance and troubled ownership throughout the saga, but Wednesday night’s playoff game between the ‘Yotes and Red Wings was a victory for Phoenix hockey fans, according to SBN’s Five For Howling.

Hate them for not showing up when the team was terrible, perhaps, but there’s no better medicine for a struggling franchise than some bonding tools between fans and of course, winning hockey.

For more, visit our Coyotes blog, Five For Howling, or our Wings blog, Winging It In Motown.

Throw The Snake is officially a big deal. We’re talking a Joe Biden-style big deal.

Yes, the Phoenix rallying call started right here at SB Nation as a collaborative effort between our Leafs blogger, Chemmy, from Pension Plan Puppets and our Coyotes blogger, Travis Hair, from Five For Howling, was featured during CBC’s playoff coverage Wednesday night.

Detroit is out-shooting Phoenix 36-27 but the Coyotes are making more of them count. Thanks to an assist from Matthew Lombardi, Derek Morris put Phoenix back on top with their third power play goal of the night.If they can hold on, get ready for the 2nd coming of pro hockey in Phoenix.

Okay, maybe just the first coming. Regardless, there will be snakes. Oh yes, there will be snakes.

Oh man, what a one-time shot.

Wojtek Wolski fired an absolute cannon of a shot into the Detroit goal before netminder Jimmy Howard even knew what happened. The Coyotes have tied the game now midway through the second period. It’s been a back and forth contest so far, with both teams getting chances and both goaltenders coming up big.

Everybody who was hoping Coyotes fans would Throw The Snake at the start of Phoenix’s first round, game one with the Detroit Red Wings is probably slightly disappointed right around now. Couple that with the fact that an octopus apparently hit the ice at Jobing.com Arena and those on the ‘Yotes bandwagon are just flat out peeved.

Check out the scene over at SBN’s Five For Howling -- where the whole Throw The Snake thing was born this past week -- just prior to the game.

The Phoenix Coyotes were last in the playoffs in 2002 when they lost in the first round to the San Jose Sharks. Since then, the team and the fan base have gone through many distractions on and off the ice. With the first home playoff game in eight years, comes a great deal of excitement. Our Coyotes site, Five For Howling, captures it:

The Coyotes fans deserve to enjoy this moment. The question is whether or not the team can make it memorable.

For more, visit our Coyotes blog, Five For Howling, or our Wings blog, Winging It In Motown.

This will also be the first playoff game in the brief history of Jobing.com Arena, which opened during the 2003-04 campaign.