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GLENDALE, Ariz. -- San Jose Sharks coach Peter DeBoer and Arizona Coyotes coach Dave Tippett endured similar challenges early this season.Both had a group of players report late to training camp after playing in the World Cup of Hockey. Both played one home game before embarking on lengthy road trips -- the Sharks for five games, the Coyotes for six.I think our five-game road trip was a little bit of a reflection of the lack of preparation we had with the group, DeBoer said Monday after practice at Gila River Arena as his team readied to face the Coyotes on Tuesday.We had seven guys away, so we didnt get a chance to get our group together for very long. We really only had one exhibition game where we actually had our group together and maybe a couple practices.The difference for DeBoer is that he coaches a veteran-laden, star-studded team that advanced to the Stanley Cup Final last season. Tippett coaches a team with four rookies and four second-year players on its 22-man roster.That gap is reflected in the standings. San Jose entered Tuesdays game with a 6-3 record, in second place in the Pacific Division, and Arizona was 2-6, in last place in the Pacific and NHL standings.The surprising one for me is our record, Tippett said. I expected us to be better than this. These close games, those are the frustrating ones because we should be finding ways to get more points than we have.The Coyotes last four losses have all been one-goal games, with New Jersey adding an empty-net goal with 14 seconds remaining to win 5-3 on Oct. 25 at Prudential Center.With so much youth in the lineup, along with four new faces added in free agency, Tippett is still tinkering with his lines to find the right mix.That tinkering continued Monday when the Coyotes assigned rookie center Christian Dvorak to Tucson of the American Hockey League to make room for 2015 first-round pick (No. 3 overall) Dylan Strome, who has played in just three games this season.Arizona has three junior-eligible players on whom it must make decisions soon. Per the CHL-NHL agreement, junior-eligible players can only play nine games in the NHL before teams must engage the first year of their entry-level deals or send them back to their junior clubs. In addition to Strome, defenseman Jakob Chychrun has played seven games and left winger Lawson Crouse has played five.Optionality is a good thing so Im not going to close any options; thats for sure, Coyotes general manager John Chayka said when asked about plans for those players. Youre trying to balance whats best for the players and their long-term needs with the needs of the team and where that player is in all of that.Youve got to define exactly what it is that player needs to play at the NHL level and excel and be the player you drafted or acquired him to be. Then you ask whats the best place for that development to occur. Some things are better served to be worked on in the NHL; some things are better served to be worked on in juniors.San Jose is more concerned with fine-tuning than major roster decisions. While much of the team that advanced to the Stanley Cup Final is back, DeBoer is still trying to find a home for free-agent signing Mikkel Boedker, a former Coyote who signed a four-year, $16 million deal with the Sharks in the summer.Its always tough to find skill guys the right kind of chemistry and sometimes its not even finding the right chemistry, its letting that chemistry develop, keeping him with the same guys, DeBoer said.Boedker, who has just one goal in nine games, began the year playing on a line with center Logan Couture and left winger Joonas Donskoi. Now he is playing on the top line with center Joe Thornton and right winger Joe Pavelski.Youve got to get accustomed to it and theyve got to get accustomed to the way I play, Boedker said. Big Joe is an amazing player and Pavs is a goal scorer, so youve got to fill in where you need to fill in. I guess on that line it will be a lot of hunting the pucks down and making sure I get it to them and then going in and making sure I create some room.Martin Jones is expected to make his fifth straight start in goal for San Jose. Louis Domingue will start for Arizona in place of injured starter Mike Smith (left leg).Smith skated on his own for the first time since suffering the injury on Oct. 18 in Ottawa and is still listed as week to week. Arizona defenseman Michael Stone is also questionable for Tuesdays game with an upper-body injury suffered Thursday in Philadelphia. Cheap Discount Jordans . Already owning gold from competition in Vancouver in 2010, Loch posted a combined four-run time of 3:27.526. That included a track-record third run of 51. Cheap Retro Jordans From China . -- Matt Kuchar and Harris English ran away with the Franklin Templeton Shootout, shooting a 14-under 58 on Sunday in the final-round scramble to break the tournament course record. http://www.cheapoutletjordans.com/ . According the Toronto Star, a knee injury will keep Sundin out of the lineup, which includes former teammates Gary Roberts, Darcy Tucker, Tie Domi and Curtis Joseph. Wholesale Jordans China Free Shipping . "No difference at all," chirped U.S. roommate and linemate James van Riemsdyk. "Its still the same cranky Phil. Wholesale Cheap Jordans From China . Nathan MacKinnon, Jamie McGinn and Jan Hejda also scored for the Avalanche, who won despite being outshot 38-23. MacKinnons goal, also on the power play, came with just over a minute remaining.Phil Taylor won twice to remain top of the Premier League but what did we learn in Sheffield? REPORT: Taylor stays top All the details from PL Darts in Sheffield Judgement Night is behind us and the Premier League has been trimmed to eight players and they all have the play-offs in their sights. But is that a realistic goal for everyone?Heres five talking points... Powering into play-offs Phil Taylor describes his win against Gary Anderson Phil Taylor is virtually assured of returning to the O2 Arenas play-offs after surprisingly missing the cut last year. Playing twice in one evening has caused chaos for some players this season, most notably for Michael Smith whose campaign looked doomed after a pair of opening-night defeats, but Taylor took full advantage.Where his rivals had the chance to earn a maximum two points, Taylor took home four to extend his advantage at the top of the Premier League. He said: A step closer to getting into the Play-Offs - I think another one or two wins will put me through and thats what Im after.Is Taylor being overly cautious? Before Thursday he claimed he only needed two wins, and achieved them instantly, so its difficult to foresee the play-offs occurring without the six-time Premier League winner.Barneys hopes ended James Wade is still in the play-off hunt after beating Barney Raymond van Barneveld sensationally roared back from a poor start last season, qualifying for the play-offs then finally ending as a semi-final loser to Michael van Gerwen. This year, he requires an even bigger miracle as he sits second-bottom in the eight-man table.Sky Sports expert Wayne Mardle said: Mathematically [he] can still do it I think but [he has] to rely on so many other results that it is not going to happen.Defeat to James Wade after a 10th leg break of throw means Barrney will only be going through the motions for the remainder of the season with almost no chance of adding to his 2014 title.dddddddddddd But one special occasion will act as a light at the end of the tunnel. In May Barney will be the star of the show when the Premier League heads to Rotterdam for the first time. He has openly confessed his main desire was to avoid elimination before the tournament heading to his home country, so he has achieved that, at least. MVG back to winning ways Michael van Gerwen reacts to beating Robert Thornton After a three-win winless run, Michael van Gerwen was perhaps happy to be pitted against bottom-of-the-table Robert Thornton. He ended his unsuccessful streak with a 7-5 win that was more comfortable than the scoreline suggests.Van Gerwen averaged 117.95 and was leading 6-2 until a brave Thornton fightback, but the Dutchman did enough to maintain the chase of Taylor at the top of the league. He is three points behind Taylor - but also just two points ahead of fifth-placed Wade so Van Gerwen must string some results together to avoid a shock exit.The battle for fourth intensifies Peter Wright and Adrian Lewis drew 6-6 Much like our football cousins, there is always a Premier League subplot with a host of players chasing the No 4 berth that results in a play-off visit. From there, anything is possible - or so they say.Gary Anderson, on 13 points, currently holds the position despite losing to Taylor in Sheffield. Wade has played one game more but sits on the same points. The third likeliest contender seems to Peter Wright who has 11 points after mustering a draw against third-placed Adrian Lewis last Thursday. All to play for…Thornton scrapping off the bottom Robert Thornton is bottom but is improving Three weeks ago Robert Thornton appeared doomed for elimination but an unlikely fightback, coupled with favours from Michael Smith and Dave Chisnall, has resulted in the Scot living to throw another dart.But Thornton, albeit in defeat to Van Gerwen, showed the spirit to indicate that he wont settle for eighth-place in the Premier League. Should Van Barneveld be looking over his shoulder nervously?Watch Premier League Darts from Belfast next Thursday at 7pm, live on Sky Sports 1 HD. Also See: Taylor extends PL advantage Mardle: Barney hopes over Fixtures/Results On Sky TV Darts betting Get Sky Sports ' ' '