The Arizona Coyotes have only played five games in this young season, but a 2-2-1 record to start in the National Hockey League’s Western Conference, Pacific Division is not quite stellar. Some believe that part of the slow start for the Coyotes may be related to goaltender Mike Smith and his recent efforts.
Smith had better expectations for a fully healthy goaltender, ready to contribute to the Coyotes team, but has yet to show it. Unfortunately Smith missed the last ten games in 2013-14 with a right knee MCL sprain, but has been working very hard during the offseason to get back into form.
In three appearances this season, he is 1-2 with a 5.33 goals against average and a .822 save percentage. You have to know something is wrong when a big, skilled goaltender like Smith allows 16 goals on only 90 shots, in only three games.
Smith, originally drafted in the fifth round by the Dallas Stars in 2001, has played in 328 NHL games, posting a career record of 148 wins and 119 losses, but does have a good 2.61 career goals against and an average .913 save percentage. Smith has played for three teams in his nine-year NHL stint, with Dallas, Tampa Bay, and currently the Coyotes.
The Coyotes management, and head coach Dave Tippett, may want to rest the 6’ 3”, 215-pound Smith for a few games, and give an opportunity to this past summer’s free-agent signing (July 1, 2014), backup goaltender Devan Dubnyk.
In two appearances for Arizona, Dubnyk is 1-0-1, with a goals against of 2.31 and save percentage of .904, while allowing five goals on 52 shots.
Dubnyk, who was signed to a one-year, $800,000 contract, was brought in to replace free-agent goaltender Thomas Greiss, who did not accept the Coyotes offer and chose to sign with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Dubnyk, a first round draft pick of the Edmonton Oilers (14th overall) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, has never really played up to his full potential and has only appeared in 175 games in his five seasons in the NHL. Playing with Edmonton, Nashville, and now with Arizona, he has totaled 62 wins and 77 losses, a 2.89 goals against average, and a .909 save percentage.
Regardless of who gets the starts and who gets the much needed rest, Coyotes goaltending coach Sean Burke will have a lot of work to do with both netminders. Burke and management have a similar philosophy of working with bigger goalies, but this project has not been very successful in Burke’s three seasons in the desert.
Smith got the start last night in Minnesota against the Wild, getting shutout 2-0 while facing 29 shots. The Coyotes are at home this Saturday night against the 2-2-2 Florida Panthers, and with the Coyotes home record at 2-2-0, I would expect Dubnyk to get the start and possibly earn more time in the crease for their next eight games in 16 days.
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