The Arizona Coyotes are at the midway point of their 2015-16 campaign -- and the only thing that hasn't improved about this team from last season are the home attendance figures.
The Coyotes average just over 13,000 fans per home game, the third-worst mark among all 30 NHL teams. That's nothing new, as the franchise has struggled through a lot of tough years (including last year), and their Glendale location isn't easily accessible for many Valley residents.
Nonetheless, this team deserves your support. They're 21-16-4 (46 points) through 41 games and are red-hot at the moment (7-1-2 in their last 10 games) -- and on Tuesday, they'll play their second of seven consecutive games at home.
The Coyotes haven't made the playoffs in four seasons, but they're primed to end that slump this year thanks to a strong mixture of veteran leadership and young potential. (And if you've never been to a Coyotes "Whiteout" playoff game... trust me, they're fun.)
If you haven't gotten out to Gila River Arena this season, here are five good reasons why you should make the trip -- even if it's a long one.
1. They're good.
After finishing the 2014-15 season with the NHL's second-worst record, the Coyotes have looked like a playoff team halfway through 2015-16. In fact, as of Tuesday, the Yotes are in second place in the Pacific Division, meaning they would host a first-round Stanley Cup playoff series.
Yes, there's a lot of hockey left to play, and several teams in the Pacific are right on their heels -- but with the amount of young up-and-comers on this year's squad, the Coyotes are likely to get better, not worse, as the season progresses.
2. The young talent.
Speaking of those young guys... a pair of 20-year-old forwards have led the Coyotes' resurgence on the offensive end. Rookies Max Domi and Anthony Duclair have combined for 22 goals and 29 assists this season, and Duclair leads the NHL with a 27.3 shooting percentage.
Second-year pro Tobias Rieder is having a breakout season of his own. The German-born 23-year-old tallied 13 goals and eight assists in his rookie campaign, but he's already notched 10 goals and 16 assists in 41 games this season.
The young trio has scored a large chunk of the Coyotes' 116 goals, the fourth most in the Western Conference, at the season's halfway mark.
3. Domingue's domination.
Early in the season, the one key piece missing from a potential Coyotes playoff run was outstanding goaltending. That piece seems to have been found in the form of rookie Louis Domingue, who just became the first goalie in franchise history to win three straight games in his first NHL season.
In his eight starts for the Yotes, Domingue has yet to lose in regulation: He's 6-0-2 with an insanely-good .947 save percentage and a 1.73 goals allowed average. The Quebec native has been nothing less than a savior in net for the Yotes after starter Mike Smith suffered a long-term injury last month and backup Anders Lindback struggled in Smith's place.
Domingue has been so good that he's received some well-earned national attention -- and If he can keep it up the rest of the season, the Coyotes are a virtual lock to advance to the postseason.
4. Shane Doan's banner year.
The most loyal man in professional sports is having one of the best seasons of his 19-year NHL career. Forward and team captain Shane Doan missed a nine-game stretch this season due to injury, but that hasn't stopped him from leading the team with 15 goals at the halfway mark. Doan has scored on 18.5 percent of his shots this season, which would easily be a career high if he maintains that pace.
The 39-year-old has been fiercely loyal to one of the most unstable pro franchises in recent memory in terms of ownership. He deserves much success on a personal and team level -- and he deserves the support of Valley fans.
5. Affordable tickets.
While on vacation in Vancouver a couple months ago, my wife and I decided to take in a Canucks game. We paid $70 a piece for seats in the very top row of the upper section.
Those prices are a stark contrast to the $23 we paid per ticket on StubHub for a Coyotes home game shortly before Christmas.
Coyotes tickets are among the cheapest in pro sports, with upper-level seats often going for $10-$15, and lower-level seats in the $30-$40 range. How many pro teams -- let alone winning pro teams -- can you watch for costs lower than dinner and a movie?
On Saturday, the Coyotes will host the New Jersey Devils in Gila River Arena six hours before the Cardinals take on the Packers next door. If you're got tickets to the Cards game, why not make it a double feature?
