Phoenix Coyotes Pound Avalance 6-1; Doan and Gordon Each Get 2 Goals

Mike Smith stopped 38 of 39 shots this afternoon as the Coyotes beat the Avs in a MLK day matinee on Kids Day. The focus will be on Shane Doan Boyd Gordon each getting two goals, but without Smith in the net, the game would have been a lot closer. Doan reverted back to his former self by getting two goals before the end of the second period and then hit a post. The Shane Doan Hat Trick. Should be a registered trademark. Eleven players picked up points. Six had two or more points. Coach Tippett asked for more contribution from each player and this team needed second line scoring. Tonight, you got it. Goals by Gilbert Brule, Boyd Gordon. Points by Chipchura, Morris, Pyatt, Summers. Boyd also got his 100th career point. Chris Summers got his first NHL point. Rusty Klesla got a goal.

Kyle Chipchura get the game rolling by deciding to fight Avs tough guy Cody McLeod. Telling him there could be only one, they had a nice scrap. Lots of punches thrown and momentum. Each got five minutes, so even strength play resumed. A minute and change later, Paul Stastny went to the sin bin for hooking. The heavens opened and shined down on the Coyotes for a power play goal. Lord have mercy, but there was movement, shots, goal! Gilbert Brule assisted by All-Star Keith Yandle and All Eyes Team Taylor Pyatt.

The building energy was high and stayed through Kasabew’s goal 2 minutes later as Denver tied the game. Nine minutes later, Shane got his first of the night as Keith picked up his second point of the night. Second period started after an intermission skate by the She Wolves. Shane registered his second of the night and 14th of the season assisted by Summers  and Derek Morris Boyd got the next one on a wrister from Whitney and Morris. The period ended with the Coyotes leading 4-1. Colorado was leading on the shots on goal and hits, but the Coyotes had it where it mattered. Scoreboard.

The third started with Boyd getting his second of the game. Here we are, two players sitting on two goals, and there is 14 minutes left in the third. Taylor Pyatt was out hitting and using his body to punish Daniel Winnik when he got near the goal. Pyatt has come alive. Like he has the past couple of  years. Almost as if he is pacing himself through the first half the season and then when everyone is worn down and tired, he springs to life. So, two players sitting on two goals. I have this hat I’ve had for three years. Every other time I’ve worn a different hat, someone got a hat trick. Scotty, Jovo, everyone. This damm  hat is cursed. It didn’t help that when the team got Shane the puck late in the third, he tried to get it over to Boyd for him to get the hat trick. Jesus gives. Fans wanted him to take. Jesus gives.

The Avs kept the puck in the Coyote zone for the majority of the third, but Mike Smith didn’t even bend let alone break. He was on point. Glove save, blocker, kicking rebounds to the corner. Denying the wrap around. Just on.

The game ends with the Coyotes winning 6-1. Third Star Mike Smith. Second star Shane Doan. First star Boyd Gordon.

Notes that don’t appear in the headlines.

1. Chris Summers played a strong game paired with Rozsival. Got his point, moved the puck nicely. Finished the game +3 and fifteen minutes of ice time.
2. Boyd Gordon had 8 shots and 2 goals for a +2 rating. I’ve never seem him shoot eight times. He probably needs a massage.
3. Yandle logged the most ice time at 19:54. It was nice to see him skate over 28 minutes as Tip has faith in Klesla and Rozsival’s lines.
4. Kyle Chipchura and Gilbert Brule got almost 10 minutes of time and made the most of it. Both were in the offensive zone, back checking, forcing the action when needed, not jumping in and getting his team caught short handed.
5. Mike Smith is worth every dollar given to him and a few thrown at Ilya Brizgalov.
6. Peter Mueller got 14:47 of ice and squeezed off 4 shots. It was good to see him out there, even in a different jersey.
7. Landeskog killed us last game. He didn’t get anywhere near a good look at the goal. The defense watched the tape on him and tightened it up.
8. Avalance leading goal scorer  Ryan O’Reilly got one shot. Our desire for O’Reilly on O’Reilly violence as Cal O’Reilly was inserted into the game.
9. Attendance was 12757.