5 Things The Arizona Coyotes Must Do To Make The 2015-16 NHL Playoffs

By Will Billinghurst

5 Things The Arizona Coyotes Must Do To Make The 2015-16 NHL Playoffs

Arizona Coyotes — The Arizona Coyotes are having a great start to the season and if the team can keep up the pace then the Coyotes could make the playoffs. The Coyotes have come together as a team and are playing well as a result, which makes it hard to imagine that this team is the same team that finished second last in the NHL last season. So what will it take for Arizona to make the playoffs this season?

5. Mike Smith Needs To Play At His Best

Mike Smith

5. Mike Smith Needs To Play At His Best

Mike Smith — The 2014-15 season was terrible for both Arizona and Mike Smith. Last season Smith played 62 games and only had 14 wins, Smith needs to play better than that to give Arizona a chance of making the playoffs. The good thing is that Smith can play really well. In the 2011-12 season Smith played 67 games and won 38, and that is how well Smith has to play to get Arizona into the playoffs again. Smith is an outstanding goalie, but needs to show it.

4. Oliver Ekman-Larsson Needs A Repeat Of Last Season

Oliver Ekman-Larsson

4. Oliver Ekman-Larsson Needs A Repeat Of Last Season

Oliver Ekman-Larsson — Oliver Ekman-Larsson has been Arizona's best defenseman for a few season, which means Arizona needs Ekman-Larsson to have a repeat of last season. In the 2014-15 season, Ekman-Larsson had 43 points in 82 games and led all defensemen in scoring with 23 goals. Arizona needs Ekman-Larsson to put up similar numbers this season. Having a defenseman who can score 23 goals in a season means Arizona doesn't have to rely on just forwards to win games.

3. Arizona Needs To Win Pacific Division Games

Oliver Ekman-Larsson

3. Arizona Needs To Win Pacific Division Games

Oliver Ekman-Larsson — The Pacific Division is one of the toughest in the NHL and teams are always in a close fight for a playoff spot, this season won't be different. The games against the teams in their division will be the most important games all season because it will be the decider on whether Arizona makes the playoffs. Games against division rivals are must-win games for Arizona this season.

2. Arizona Has To Stay Healthy

Shane Doan

2. Arizona Has To Stay Healthy

Shane Doan — Teams have missed the playoffs because of injuries to key players on the team. The core players on Arizona need to stay healthy in order to make the playoffs. Two players that need to be healthy are Max Domi and Anthony Duclair because Arizona depends on both of them having an outstanding season. Maybe more important is Shane Doan because this young team needs the experienced captain to lead them to the playoffs.

1. Max Domi and Anthony Duclair Have To Keep Up Their Pace

Max Domi

1. Max Domi and Anthony Duclair Have To Keep Up Their Pace

Max Domi — If Max Domi and Anthony Duclair can keep up the scoring pace they are on then Arizona will make the 2015-16 playoffs. Arizona has two of the best rookies in the league right now. In 10 games this season Duclair has seven points and Domi has 10 points, which is tied with Connor McDavid. These two talented players are what Arizona has been waiting years for and now the Arizona Coyotes will have a bright future because of Domi and Duclair.

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Arizona Coyotes

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