Mike Smith Psyche 'A Concern' To Coyotes Head Coach

Mike Smith Psyche ‘A Concern’ To Coyotes Head Coach

Oct 18, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Coyotes goalie Mike Smith (41) and St. Louis Blues center David Backes (42) react after a goal by St. Louis Blues left wing Alexander Steen (not pictured) during the second period at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

Mike Smith seems to be taking losses a little bit harder than everyone else on the Arizona Coyotes

Four games into the regular NHL season, the Arizona Coyotes are 2-2-0. They’ve won two games- one by a large margin, one in overtime- and been strongly overpowered in two others.

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It’s still early on, and the team has nowhere near the losing record that many other franchises have been dealing with. The Boston Bruins have only 3 wins to compensate for four losses, the Philadelphia Flyers are 1-2-2, and there’s a whole slew of teams- the Florida Panthers, the Buffalo Sabres, the Carolina Hurricanes, the Edmonton Oilers– that cannot seem to bring home wins at all. For all intents and purposes, the Arizona Coyotes are doing just fine.

Of those four games, though, starting netminder Mike Smith has only played in three- and has over 5 GAA to start off his season. He’s lost two games with six goals apiece, and only triumphed over the Oilers 7-4 due to Mikkel Boedker’s phenomenal play. The Coyotes may be doing just fine, but Mike Smith is not.

This is due to lackluster defending on the team’s blue line as much as it is poor play by Smith, but Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett says that the goaltender is taking it harder than anyone else. According to NBC’s Pro Hockey Talk, things aren’t looking hopeful on Smitty’s end:

"Smith wasn’t feeling up after Saturday’s 6-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues. While other players dissected the slaughter they had just witnessed, Smith sat nearly motionless in his stall with a towel draped over his head.When coach Dave Tippett was asked about his goaltender’s psyche after the game, he admitted “it’s a concern.”"

There has been talk of using backup netminder Devan Dubnyk long-term, but that could be the final straw that breaks Mike Smith’s psyche: the best thing for the team to do is start him in net against the Nashville Predators, and pray for the best.

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