Mike Smith blocks 39 as Phoenix Coyotes get third win over Colorado Avalanche 4-1 -NHL Match Update
Mike Smith might not be the biggest name in the goaltending category around the National Hockey League (NHL), but he certainly had a all-star performance against Colorado by blocking 39 shots for a near shutout as the Coyotes won their third straight over the Avalanche, 4-1, Wednesday night, November 2, 2011, at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado.
So far this 2011-2012 NHL regular season, Mike Smith has played in nine contests with the Phoenix Coyotes and has managed to win five games, which makes him a crucial addition to their team.
He faced nearly double the attempts on his net compared to Colorado counterpart, Semyon Varlamov, who blocked only 24 of a potential 27, while Smith had a near shutout by blocking 39 of 40 shots.
Taylor Pyatt scored his second of the season to kick off the scoring in the match nearly midway through the first. Boyd Gordon was penalised nearly a minute later for delaying the game, which gave Colorado a chance at levelling the contest, but Phoenix defenseman had the net secured.
Radim Vrbata potted his fourth to extend the lead with a little over two minutes to play in the second, but Colorado’s, Ryan O’Reilly , finally put Colorado on the scoreboard 26 seconds later, giving the home crowd a chance to cheer.
Unfortunately for the Colorado crowd, Lauri Korpikoski widened the gap even further with his third of the season 24 seconds into the third period, but with 19 minutes remaining in regulation, the Avalanche had more than enough time to catch up and even take control of the contest.
Radim Vrbata bounced back after giving Colorado their fourth power play opportunity at the 13:32 mark of the third period and scored the insurance goal with less than two minutes remaining until the final 20 minutes ended to take the match.
Phoenix Coyotes are eyeing a fourth straight victory against the Nashville Predators when they return home on Thursday, while Colorado will face-off against the Dallas Stars on Friday for a one-game road trip before returning and hosting the Calgary Flames on Sunday.
It will be exciting to see whether Mike Smith can keep the momentum going for the team in their upcoming contests.
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