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
Number 1: The Penalty Shot in Madison Square
When: January 10, 2012
Who: Marian Gaborik, New York Rangers
The Phoenix Coyotes traveled to Madison Square Garden to take on the New York Rangers in what would be a thrilling game to the end. Late in the overtime period Phoenix defenseman Adrian Aucoin hooked Marian Gaborik on a break-a-way.
The refs ruled it as a penalty shot and Gaborik became the guy with the game on his stick.
Next: Top 5 Coyotes Goaltenders Of All Time
Gaborik skates down the ice, dekes past Smith, fires the puck towards the net, and gets denied by a sprawling Smith.
Mike Smith manages to knock the puck away with his goaltender stick.