Arizona Coyotes Goaltending Controversy?

Only five games into the 2014-15 NHL season and there are already questions surrounding the Arizona Coyotes. There is one area in particular that has been the topic of conversation since opening night, goaltending. Dave Tippett has said he doesn’t want a goaltending controversy, but we may be on the brink of one.

Good goaltending has been the backbone and key to the Coyotes recent years of success. As the goaltenders go, the team goes. This was very apparent in the 2011-12 season that saw the Coyotes win the Pacific division and make an appearance in the Western Conference Finals. It was no secret that Mike Smith carried the team to that success.

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This year however, has not started off on the best of notes. Mike Smith has played only three games and has gone 1-2-0. In those three games he has allowed 16 goals. After the first game of the year against Winnipeg Smith told Fox Sports Arizona that he was not feeling comfortable. “I never got comfortable tonight. It was just one of those games where I didn’t feel good on my feet, didn’t feel comfortable in net.” He sat out the next game against Los Angeles but was right back at it against Edmonton. The Coyotes would go on to win the game against Edmonton but Smith gave up four goals. Granted, the Coyotes turned the puck over time after time and gave Edmonton high quality scoring chances, but those are saves that Smith is capable of making. Following the game against the Oilers, the St. Louis Blues came to town and put up a six spot on the Coyotes. It was another sloppy game for the team and Smith. After the game against St. Louis, Smith told Fox Sports Arizona, “I’ve played three games, and it hasn’t gone even close to the way it needs to be.”

Enter Devan Dubnyk. The Coyotes acquired Dubnyk to fill the empty backup goalie spot this offseason. He has played two games and is 1-0-1. In both games, Dubnyk has looked stellar. He looks confident in net and is making the hard saves when needed. Despite taking the loss against Nashville, he played really well and kept the team in the game. He played a very large part in securing a point for the team. This is all coming off a year in which Dubnyk bounced around from team to team last year due to poor play. It would seem that Sean Burke has turned things around for Dubnyk. His great play couldn’t have come at a better time as Mike Smith continues to struggle.

The Coyotes have a very tough matchup Thursday against the Minnesota Wild and Dave Tippett has a difficult choice to make. Mike Smith is the number one guy and needs to play in order to work out of his current situation. Devan Dubnyk however, has played really well and in my opinion, has earned the start for their next game Thursday. Do you play the struggling starting goalie against a very good Minnesota team? Or do you stick with the backup who is on somewhat of a hot streak?

We are only five games into the year and there is no need to hit the panic button yet, but Mike Smith needs to find his game. He is critical to the playoff chances of the Coyotes. It may be better to get his struggles out of the way early, but given the difficult Pacific division and Western Conference that the Coyotes reside in, it will not take long for teams to pull away in the standings.

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