Howlin’ Hockey Top 10: Mike Smith Saves with the Coyotes

Dec 22, 2014; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Arizona Coyotes goaltender Mike Smith (41) enters the ice for the start of the first period against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Smith has not had the year he has been hoping for. This season he is 5-15-2 with a 3.48 GAA and a .884 SV%. His last start in Vancouver resulted in him being pulled after giving up four goals on eleven shots for a .636 SV%. If you put this year aside, Mike Smith has been a solid net-minder for the Coyotes organization. He has a habit of making ridiculous saves look easy as he gets to where he needs to be to stop the opposing shot. In fact, he has so many acrobatic saves that Howlin’ Hockey has decided to make a countdown.

Here are the top ten saves from Mike Smith in a Coyotes uniform:

Next: Number 10

Number 10: Commander of the Crease

When: May 7, 2012

Who: Alexander Radulov and Gabriel Bourque, Nashville Predators

Mike Smith shows off his athleticism by diving from post to post in this playoff match-up between the Phoenix Coyotes and the Nashville Predators in 2012. Smith controls the crease and finishes the Nashville attack with a sweet glove save on Gabriel Bourque.

Next: Number 9

Number 9: Point-Blank Stop

When: December 17, 2013

Who: Alex Galchenyuk, Montreal Canadiens

The Phoenix Coyotes took a trip up north to face the Montreal Canadiens in a matchup between two of the top goaltenders at the time; Mike Smith and Carey Price. With the play developing behind the net Mike Smith never lost his eye on this puck and kept his composure during the offensive onslaught by Montreal. Alex Galchenyuk gets open from point blank range and fires a puck towards the net. Smith flashes the leather to swallow up the shot.

Next: Number 8

Number 8: Splitting Stop

When: December 21, 2013

Who: Clarke MacArthur, Ottawa Senators

Desperation saves in overtime are something else. In this game against the Ottawa Senators, Mike Smith saves the game by stopping MacArthur’s shot with his pad. Smith goes into the full splits to make the stop and send the action back up the ice. Antoine Vermette would ultimately seal the deal in overtime with his third goal of this contest.

Next: Number 7

Number 7: Diving Leather

When: February 1, 2014

Who: Brian Gibbons, Pittsburgh Penguins

Sidney Crosby and friends came to town to take on the Phoenix Coyotes for this game on February 1, 2014. Mike Smith was sharp all night but this stop in the first period was especially memorable. Smith stopped a shot from the point with his pads which sent a rebound right to the tape of Brian Gibbons. Gibbons fires at the open cage but gets denied by the diving glove of Mike Smith.

Next: Number 6

Number 6: Pad, Blocker, Glove Sequence

When: April 6, 2013

Who: Cody McLeod, Colorado Avalanche

In a game against the Colorado Avalanche tensions were running high. Mike Smith makes a few beautiful saves as he initially stops the shot with his pads, punches away the rebound with his blocker, and then finally swallows up the puck with his glove. Cody McLeod was relentless with his pokes to which Mike Smith snatches his stick and attempts to break it over the crossbar.

Next: Number 5

Number 5: Diving Blocker

When: October 23, 2011

Who: Bobby Ryan, Anaheim Ducks

Mike Smith uses his quickness for this stop as he goes from the butterfly position to a sprawling dive in no time at all. Bobby Ryan fires at an open net only to be stoned by Smith’s blocker. Ryan’s shot is fast but Mike Smith is just a tad faster. Spoiler: we will see Bobby Ryan get denied later on in this countdown.

Next: Number 4

Number 4: Windmill Save and 53 Others

When: April 3, 2012

Who: James Wisniewski, Columbus Blue Jackets

Windmill saves are easily a fan favorite if you can pull them off correctly. Mike Smith shows off his athleticism by robbing James Wisniewski of the Columbus Blue Jackets with a windmill glove save. This was just one of Smith’s 54 saves in this 2-0 shutout against Columbus.

Next: Number 3

Number 3: Scorpion Stops Ryan

When: March 2, 2013

Who: Bobby Ryan, Anaheim Ducks

Everybody loves a good scorpion save. Whether you think its pure luck or hard core skill, they are acrobatic and fun to watch. Mike Smith give his take of a scorpion save by robbing Bobby Ryan of a goal with his skate blade.

Next: Number 2

Number 2: Stealthy Glove Stop on Datsyuk

When: January 19, 2012

Who: Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings

Pavel Datsyuk has one of the best set of hands this game has ever seen. His stealthy dekes trick goaltenders and force them out of their positions. While his dekes were flawless on this shootout attempt against the Coyotes, Mike Smith’s glove was just a little bit better.

Next: Number 1