Arizona Coyotes: Goalies Struggle in Blowout Loss to Pittsburgh
The Arizona Coyotes have now dropped seven games in eight attempts, thanks to their latest loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
When it rains for the Arizona Coyotes, it pours.
Trying to build off of their 4-1 win against the Nashville Predators on Saturday, the Coyotes hopes of a two-game win-streak was quickly put to rest when they traveled to play the defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Coyotes and Penguins ended the first period with Pittsburgh ahead with a slim 1-0 lead, thanks to a goal by Scott Wilson. But then it happened. And it didn’t seem to stop.
The Penguins scored four goals in the second period, and then tacked on two more in the final twenty minutes of play. Seven different players scored tonight for Pittsburgh as they extended their winning-streak to six games. Their recent stretch of dominance is good for first place in the Metropolitan Division, courtesy of a sparkling 19-7-3 record.
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Penguins goalie Matt Murray was outstanding, as he stopped all thirty-two of the shots the Coyotes fired on goal tonight. Murray recorded his second shutout of the season as the Pens routed the Yotes.
Arizona’s goaltenders on the other hand, struggled mightily. Mike Smith started in net, but was yanked in the second period after allowing four goals on 22 shots. Louis Domingue replaced Smith, but wasn’t too much better. He made 12 saves, but still allowed three goals. At the end of the game, the Coyotes touchdown-sized deficit was all in thanks to their poor goaltending.
While it was only the second time this season that Dave Tippett’s Coyotes were shutout, it seemed to add insult to injury. The Coyotes are slumping thanks to seven losses in eight tries. Arizona is currently 9-14-5 and seventh in the Pacific Division. If this year continues to deprive fans of a winning record, it will be the third consecutive year in which that has happened.
Next: Arizona Cardinals Under-Perform in Loss to Miami
The Coyotes are right back at it Tuesday night as they travel to play the Detroit Red Wings (13-12-4).