Arizona Coyotes’ Ryan White Earns Player of the Game Belt In Opener
Arizona Coyotes forward Ryan White earned the player of the game belt after facing his old team in the Yotes 4-3 overtime win.
In a scrappy affair, the Arizona Coyotes squeaked out a 4-3 overtime victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.
There were several notable players in the victory, from the never-say-die stand by Mike Smith in OT to Oliver Ekman-Larsson scoring yet another game-winner goal.
Jakob Chychrun had a strong debut, warts and all, and for at least one game looked like he deserved to spend the season in the National Hockey League over the Coyotes’ more veteran, lesser skilled options.
Captain Shane Doan was the man delivering the belt tonight and he wasn’t interested in goal-scoring accolades or awarding a rook. He went for grit.
Doan starts out by explaining the belt to the new guys, saying it “goes to the best player of the game, or sometimes to the guy who deserves it” to laughs from the room.
The captain referenced two huge blocks by “Whitey” that got the team going, and awarded the belt to #25.
It was an interesting contest from Ryan White‘s perspective.
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The 28-year-old forward can play center or wing and was signed by John Chayka in the offseason due to that flexibility. He also happens to be just a few months removed from wearing orange and black with the Philadelphia Flyers.
White’s primary function is that of an agitating depth forward who makes your team “hard to play against”.
On Saturday night, White was in the middle of things but appeared to be more of a conciliator than instigator between his former team and his new one.
Despite concerns from fans that the Ryan White may be surplus to requirements, in his first audition he appeared effective in that bottom-six checking role according to the eye-test, but the team did get caved in with shots when he was on the ice.
The heroics of Smitty or the quiet production of Martin Hanzal might seem like better choices for player of the game, all things considered. I’m not one to question the captain too strongly on his choice, however.
Next: Shane Doan's Impact On Arizona Hockey
With the Arizona Coyotes carrying five rookies on the roster heading on a six-game road trip just one game into the season, the impact of veterans like Ryan White will be important to the team’s stability.
For one night at least, Shane Doan felt White has done his part in providing the right kind of influence on the team and the youth.