Arizona Coyotes Max Domi’s NHL Debut Big Success

By William Grigsby | Oct 9, 2015

Max Domi, the rookie sensation of the Arizona Coyotes scored his first NHL goal, and added an assist for good measure.

Ok, admit it…you’ve been waiting with great anticipation for Max Domi’s first NHL game to be played. Well, he didn’t disappoint, that’s for certain. He made a picture perfect to Oliver Ekman-Larsson from the left board and OEL one-timed it by a startled Jonathan Quick, who did not have a very good game. He has now given up nine goals in two home games. I’m sure L.A. Kings Head Coach Sutter will have his team in the doghouse until they figure out what’s wrong.

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And, for once it was another team who will be figuring out what happened, and why they failed to play well. Losing can get contagious, but winning is much more fun. The Arizona Coyotes had fun tonight, and it showed.

Although the young players like Rieder, with a goal and an assist played well, Mike Smith had a stellar night. He faced 41 shots and stopped all of them except one. And that one was after he made a circus save on Jeff Carter, only to have Tyler Toffoli grab the rebound and plant it behind Smitty for a short-handed goal.

What GM Don Maloney wanted when he remolded this roster was speed and youthful energy. He both of them in this game, as time after time if it wasn’t Boedker zipping into the L.A. zone it was Rieder or Domi. Anthony Duclair also had an assist. I think they can claim first game rights from number one draft pick Connor McDavid who didn’t get a point, and only had two shots on goal in his first NHL game.

The other aspect was this game typifies the way Head Coach Dave Tippett wants his team to play. Tough defense, good goaltending and enough offense to get a W.

Max Domi was having fun out there. His father, Tie was in the stands and was very proud of his son’s premier NHL appearance. He mentioned to Todd Walsh of Fox Sports Arizona, that Max has worked hard for this moment, and he is a winner. Indeed… he is. We didn’t see Domi on a line with Duclair, as he was teamed up with Vermette and Boedker. Duclair played on a line with Hanzal and Rieder. It seemed to work well.

The combination of Downie, Gordon and Martinook played good possession hockey. Once the Arizona Coyotes had the lead they used excellent positional play to keep it.

The L.A. Kings tried to show how tough they are, and attempted to rough up OEL at one point. And, guess who was in the thick of it? Goon Jordan Nolan. He wound up with a double minor for his troubles.

All in all it was a very good night for the Arizona Coyotes. I predicted the correct score of this game, but had the wrong team winning. Believe me, I don’t mind being wrong about that.

Now it’s on to face the Pittsburgh Penguins tomorrow night in front of a sellout crowd. Can Max Domi duplicate his performance?

Next: Max Domi: Arizona Coyotes Rookie Sensation

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