Five things you missed: Arizona Coyotes vs Nashville Predators
The Arizona Coyotes are starting to fit more comfortably in their skin vs Nashville Predators
The team got a point last night, which I can’t afford to be upset about. Seriously- I’ve lost eleven pounds since the season started over the Bruins going 0-4 after game one, so I need to learn how to de-stress. A point is a point.
The team walked away from the matchup against Nashville with some serious ponderings. Here’s what you might have missed:
1. Devan Dubnyk might be closing in on Mike Smith
Ah, Doobie. Did we tell you that Howlin’ Hockey might adopt a giraffe and name it such? Good times, much professionalism.
Devan Dubnyk made his intentions pretty clear when he came to Arizona- he hopes that some consistent goal coaching will help this former first-rounder develop into someone who could potentially compete for a starting role. He’s proving this with every game he plays, as this is now the second game in which he’s managed to keep his head against a pretty tough team.
The Coyotes should in no way, shape, or form act rashly here. Mike Smith has proven in the past that he’s got the moves, so long as he gets his head on straight. It’s a matter of whether he can get his head on straight enough, soon enough, though… if Arizona doesn’t watch out, they could be host to the league’s most expensive backup netminder.
Oct 11, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Coyotes goalie Devan Dubnyk (40) covers the puck during the first period against the Los Angeles Kings at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
2. Mike Ribeiro is behaving just fine, it seems
Maybe Nashville doesn’t mind how you behave off the ice, so long as you know how to score? Back when Ribsy got bought out, he made it clear that there was never any love lost between himself and GM Don Maloney- so it could be possible that a change in systems was just what the forward needed. In any case, he’s got five points in six games, which is… well, it’s pretty okay.
(BTW: if Pekka Rinne ends up playing as well for the remainder of the season as he has thus far, the Western Conference could look at another post-season with five Central Division teams moving forward. Nashville has proven that they’ve got what it takes to compete in the West, and they could very easily oust someone for a shot at the Cup this spring.)
3. Connor Murphy
I’m going to put him in my top five until fans start to notice that he’s on the team. Murphy may not be Zbynek Michalek just yet, but he’s got the momentum and persistence that many young guys are missing. You may swing at a puck that’s actually five inches behind where you thought it was, but it’s how you handle yourself after that that truly determines whether you have a place in the NHL or not.
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This is the criticism that I have most for Mike Smith- he doesn’t handle himself like Connor Murphy. Part of getting better is refusing to let little mistakes shake you, and I don’t see that when Murphy’s on the ice. I want to track him more than some of the older guys, because he’s potentially the future of the team- especially if the rumors are true, and Gormley’s not happy spending another season in Portland. Murphy and Stone are the guys that will remain when OEL and Yandle are the vets, and I’m happy to say that doesn’t make me nervous.
Speaking of Oliver Ekman-Larsson… what is up? OEL, r u hurt? Pls send word if you need help, cause you’re playing like you have mono.
4. Special teams, to the rescue!!
Have you ever seen a gif that you just can’t stop watching for hours and hours and hours? That’s how I feel about the Coyotes power play.
It won’t make up for deficiencies in other parts of the team’s game, but it will most certainly help elevate a team that isn’t heavy on the score-power. Patience is a virtue, and if the team can continue to avoid penalties of their own- and draw other teams into the box- this could be the determining factor in more than one game before April.
"That being said, it won’t help the power play any if the team continues to come off a one-man advantage with stupid turnovers in the neutral zone. I’m just sayin’."
5. Sam Gagner is going to score soon… I think
Nine SOG in five games isn’t terrible, but it’s not that great, either.
That being said, I feel like Gagner is suffering from a bad case of the ‘wrong place, wrong time’ shots so far this season. He seems to want to score- really badly!- but hasn’t quite gotten there yet. He’s still developing line chemistry, but he’s looking strong on the power play… so if anything, expect to see him notch one of those specialty goals sometime soon.
If he doesn’t, I’ll feel pretty stupid.
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