Doan savors long-awaited moment

Its been a satisfying season of firsts for Coyotes captain Shane Doan. First division title. First playoff series win. And now this: In a couple days time, Doan will officially be sporting the longest playoff beard hes ever grown. Im working on it, Doan said with a grin as he took in the thousand or so fans who turned out at Cutter Aviation for the Coyotes triumphant arrival back home on Tuesday afternoon following their series-clinching, 4-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the Western Conference quarterfinals. Doan received a host of text messages and voicemails Monday night from friends, family and former teammates, who couldnt resist jabs like this at the Coyotes most notorious practical joker. Now that youve won, we can rip you about your (failed) breakaway (in Game 5), Doan said, laughing. Doan hasnt had a chance to absorb the full feeling of what has just transpired. I think getting ready for the game tomorrow will be really when you start to understand, OK, were moving on to the next one, he said. But the significance of this first-ever Coyotes playoff series win is certainly not lost on him. I remember my first year in the league we played Detroit (in the playoffs) and it went six games. I was like OK, we have a pretty good team. Well be all right. The next year we were in the playoffs and (the first-round series) went seven. All of the sudden, its 15 years later and you still havent done it. Doan said he doesnt even try to explain this feeling to younger players. You can tell people as many times as you want, but until they experience it, they dont appreciate it, he said. And that is why he took that step back from the celebratory pack surrounding goalie Mike Smith after Game 6. He wanted to drink it in. It was cool to see how we got to celebrate. You want to enjoy it, he said. You appreciate it so much more because its been such a long time.