Five Things You Missed: Arizona Coyotes vs Minnesota Wild
Are the Arizona Coyotes in a slump, or are the Minnesota Wild simply invincible?
2-0 isn’t the kind of score that the Arizona Coyotes want to finish off a game with… but really, we can’t overlook a number of key points throughout the game.
1. Darcy Kuemper.
I really hate this guy, because he’s the best thing to come out of the NHL since Martin Brodeur. The Minnesota Wild are an extremely strong team regardless, but with Kuemper in net, they might just be unstoppable.
Live Feed
Puck Prose
Kuemper posted his third shutout of the season on Thursday night, leading his team to a 3-2-0 record to start off the season. Those three wins? Oh yeah, all shutouts. When Kuemper’s in net, it’s like there’s a brick wall in place of a human goaltender.
It’s too early to predict whether or not he can keep up this kind of play, but it’s safe to assume that the Wild stand to be a threat in the West this season. With the Blues absolutely dominating the Coyotes on Saturday night, The Nashville Predators refusing to lose in regulation, and the Chicago Blackhawks looking… well, like the Chicago Blackhawks… The Coyotes will need to surge past the Dallas Stars in a big way in order to gain a Wild Card spot. That’s assuming the Colorado Avalanche don’t make a comeback, too- Darcy Kuemper is here to show the NHL that the Central Division might be the uncontested powerhouse this season.
2. Momentum is still an issue
Analyzing a hockey team can get kind of tricky when it comes down to broad terms like ‘momentum’. I would in no way compare the Coyotes we saw on the ice in St. Paul with the Coyotes we saw on the ice in the team’s final game in Glendale on Saturday, yet momentum was an issue in both games.
Against the St. Louis Blues, the Coyotes had trouble with defensive momentum, particularly in net, after David Backes tapped a goal in with his skate on a Blues power play. This wasn’t the issue for the Coyotes Thursday night- instead, the team had trouble recovering offensively after the linesmen disallowed a goal early in the third period due to goalie interference by BJ Crombeen. The team can’t afford either kind of slow-down; losing steam in terms of scorepower is just as deadly as allowing five goals in the final two periods of a game.
Oct 15, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Coyotes left wing Mikkel Boedker (89) celebrates with center Sam Gagner (9) after scoring a hat trick during the third period against the Edmonton Oilers at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
3. Sam Gagner
Gagner is SO CLOSE to getting his first goal of the season! He’s obviously still developing chemistry on the ice with his new team, so I won’t criticize him. I’ve seen a significant improvement in his on-ice presence since the first game of the season; arguably, the center is having to overcome any problems he developed during his time in Edmonton.
Better is still not elite, though, and that’s what many are hoping that Gagner will be. It may seem unfair to put this kind of pressure on a new team member, but the Coyotes cannot afford to come into the season with lowered expectations for a former first-round draft pick.
(That being said, I sincerely hope that Mikkel Boedker hasn’t lost the magic touch he had in the first week of the season. I’m still looking for #82in15).
4. Mike Smith
This game was quite possibly Mike Smith’s final chance to remind fans- and the Coyotes’ front office- why he’s being paid more than practically anyone else on the squad. Many were concerned that Smith just wasn’t going to be able to get his head on straight in enough time to get the season under way, but he showed that those who had faith were right to do so.
Live Feed
Puck Prose
The starting netminder only let two goals in during the second period, and held his own against an absolute flurry of shots as the game progressed. The game wasn’t lost due to his poor play, but due to Darcy Kuemper being an absolute freak in net and the Coyotes failing to capitalize on a couple key scoring chances as the game went on. Now, we just need to see him stay like this.
5. Special Teams was still a focal point
The team’s penalty kill was, as per usual, extremely effective. The Coyotes are known for having some of the best special teams in the league, and they reminded us of why when the team was a man down Thursday night.
That being said, the team failed to draw too many penalties from the Wild, which would have greatly helped them. This was one of the cleaner looking games I’ve seen so far this season, and it ultimately hurt the Coyotes in the end.
Know what that means? The team’s either got to clean up their even-strength play, or they’ve got to learn how to get under the other teams’ skin. Max Domi will probably eventually play this role for the team, but until he graduates from the OHL, the ‘Yotes will need to provide this for themselves. Instigation is a tricky game to play, and skaters like Shane Doan aren’t able to provide it- although they most certainly do draw plenty of penalties on their own.
(Side note- speaking of special teams, how bad was the Coyotes power play during the third period?!?!? I died.)
More from Howlin' Hockey
- How the Arizona Coyotes could line-up with Logan Cooley signed
- Report: Logan Cooley could be closer to signing Arizona Coyotes ELC
- Arizona Coyotes sign Matias Maccelli to three-year deal
- Ivan Prosvetov signs one-year deal with Arizona Coyotes
- Arizona Coyotes cut Galchenyuk after reported police incident