The Arizona Coyotes overcome a questionable no-call and subsequent gaffe by Louis Domingue to snap their four game losing streak last night at Gila River Arena.
The Arizona Coyotes started last night’s matchup against the LA Kings about as well as you could expect.
Then, a crazy sequence of events including Tanner Pearson colliding with Louis Domingue led to Nick Shore scoring what was basically an empty net goal.
The question arose from whether Pearson interfered with Domingue, and if he did why wasn’t there a whistle?
“We probably should have challenged it,” head coach Dave Tippett told reporters after the game. “We didn’t.”
Domingue was unsure of the ruling or lack thereof, but made it clear he would not make the same mistake again.
“My strapping was off,” Domingue said. “I didn’t fake anything. It just came undone. When that happens, your mask goes below your eyes so I took it off. Quite honestly, I thought they’d blow the whistle before that. … I probably (need to) go back in even if my mask is off. I’m still learning. Those mistakes won’t happen again.”
Shrugging off the rookie mistake and no-call both, Domingue saved 19 of the next 20 shots he faced en route to the Coyotes first win in five games.
After piling up solid start after solid start, Domingue continues hovering around .928 save percentage with talk of Mike Smith taking shots in controlled practices with goaltending coach Jon Elkin.
When Smith returns, it will be interesting to see how playing time is doled out if Louis remains at or near this same standard of play.
Now for some links:
About Last Night
Arizona Coyotes Overcome LA Kings 3-2 On Martinook’s Game Winner [Howlin’ Hockey]
Coyotes snap losing streak with win over Kings [AZCentral – Sarah McLellan]
"“Doaner and me have worked on that play numerous amounts of time in practice,” Martinook said. “We’ve tried it in games a few times. He flipped it right where it needed to be. Doughty, I don’t think he knew I was that close and I grabbed it. Sat good for me, and I just tried to make a quick move and beat him."
Arizona Coyotes finally get offense going early, defeat Los Angeles Kings 3-2 [Five For Howling – Brendan Porter]
Coyotes Talk
Jordan Martinook’s Value Goes Well Beyond Scoring Goals [Today’s Slapshot – Craig Morgan]
"“I try not to get too hard on myself but the last couple games here, I got pretty down,” the Coyotes forward said. “It’s something that you try to work really hard on and hope it goes in here and there.”"
Arizona Coyotes’ Mike Smith progressing from core muscle injury [AZCentral – Sarah McLellan]
"Tippett described the sessions as “very controlled” with a focus on Smith’s movement, but Smith is also stopping some shots. “It’s about getting his work in and when he feels like he’s ready, physically ready, to join our group, he will,” Tippett said."
Around The NHL
Next: Resurgent Shane Doan Leads Surprising Coyotes In Playoff Push
Milan Lucic criticizes referee Brad Meier following ejection [Puck Daddy – Sean Leahy]
Report: Jonathan Drouin’s trade stock ‘dropping by the minute’ [Sportsnet.ca – Mike Johnston]
10 players who need a strong second half to make amends for a poor start [The Hockey News – Mike Brophy]
"Getzlaf has taken over the team lead in scoring, but let’s be honest, 28 points in 40 games for a player of his caliber is nothing to write home about. Getzlaf didn’t score in Anaheim’s first 13 games and had just one goal in his first 29 games. The Ducks go nowhere without Getzlaf hitting on all cylinders."