Arizona Coyotes Looking For Consistency With Mike Smith

By Catherine Silverman | Oct 15, 2014

Oct 9, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Coyotes goalie Mike Smith (41) makes a save on Winnipeg Jets left wing Andrew Ladd (16) during the first period at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /

The Arizona Coyotes hope that starting netminder Mike Smith can find some consistency in the 2014-2015 season

The Arizona Coyotes saw, in the first period of the 2014-2015 season, the Mike Smith that they were hoping never to see again.

The team’s starting netminder, who is signed to a $4 million AAV salary until 2019, posted a .778 SV% on the team’s opening night. He allowed six goals- four of which came in the first period alone- to slip past him in a 6-2 victory for the Winnipeg Jets, which led to him being benched on Saturday night against the Los Angeles Kings.

More from Arizona Coyotes

Wednesday night will see the Coyotes play the Edmonton Oilers at home in Gila River Arena, and the team hopes that Smith can regain his composure and lead the team to victory over the divisional rivals.

Should Smith not be up to the test, though, the team’s backup- former Oilers netminder Devan Dubnyk- will be more than ready to step in. The 6 foot 6 goalie played all sixty minutes in Glendale against the Kings on Saturday, only allowing two goals early on before the Coyotes returned with three unanswered goals to record the first win of the season.

Many expected Dubnyk to start in net against his former club, but it seems that head coach Dave Tippett would rather show his starting man that the team still has faith in his abilities. At 32, Smith is nearing the age where his performance might be cause for concern for the team, but the franchise is hoping that he still has a few good years left in him.

If Smith cannot find his rhythm soon, though, the club could be looking at a battle for the starting job between the two netminders.

More from FanSided

Home/Arizona Coyotes