Coyotes need better starts in games

Coyotes (3-3-1) at Senators (3-2-2)

When: 4 p.m., Saturday

Where: Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

TV: DirecTV or NHL Center Ice

Radio: ESPN 620 AM

Scouting the Senators: Former Coyote Kyle Turris is one of four players with eight points (4 goals, 4 assists) and Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson leads the club with eight assists. … Ottawa has lost three straight games — the last two in shootouts — after a 3-1 start. … F Mike Hoffman left Thursday’s game against New Jersey with a lower body injury and did not practice Friday. If he doesn’t play, Matt Puempel will likely be recalled. D Chris Phillips (back) and F Clarke MacArthur (concussion) are out long-term. D Marc Methot (concussion) is expected to return against the Coyotes.

NEW YORK — Dave Tippett will tell you there is no secret formula for starting games fast. It’s about preparation, execution, work ethic and will.

Nobody can pinpoint why, but in the last four games (and truthfully in the season opener in Los Angeles), the Coyotes have not found those key ingredients for early success.

In a loss to Minnesota on Oct. 15, the Coyotes fell behind 3-0 before an ill-fated rally in a 4-3 loss. Despite an early goal against Boston on Oct. 17, the Coyotes were outshot 33-10 through the first two periods and eventually fell behind 3-1 before another rally came up short in a 5-3 loss.

In the first two games of this five-game road trip, which continues Saturday in Ottawa, the Coyotes didn’t register a shot on goal until 1:54 remained in the first period in New Jersey, and 5:14 remained in the first period in New York against the Rangers.

“We just looked slow again,” goalie Mike Smith said. “I don’t know why we can’t figure that out but it’s definitely something that needs to be addressed.”

It’s clear the Coyotes are capable of picking up the pace. While other teams’ defensive postures with leads have certainly played into the Coyotes’ improved play, there are also noticeable shifts in attitude and approach as the game wears on.

“We’re skating onto the puck; we’re not watching,” captain Shane Doan said. “When one guy goes, two guys go. That’s kind of the way it has to be for us if we want to have success.”

As has been the case for most of the season, the Coyotes also need some of their veterans to step into the fray. Rookies and second-year players have accounted for 13 of the team’s 19 goals through seven games.

“When you look at (Tobias) Rieder and (Jordan) Martinook and (Max) Domi (and Anthony Duclair), we’ve got some guys that can push the pace a little bit,” Tippett said. “We’re trying to drag a few more guys into that pace game.”

Teams are certainly adjusting to what the Coyotes are trying to do by clogging up the neutral zone, but it’s nothing the team or coaching staff hasn’t seen before so it’s not catching them by surprise.

But the ability of the Coyotes to break out of their own end and start the transition game has been a major factor in the early sluggishness. Against the Rangers, Arizona had to block nine shots in the first period because it was bottled up on its own end.

On Kevin Hayes’ game-deciding goal where goalie Mike Smith misplayed the puck behind the net, Tippett noted how his wings failed to clear the zone on two occasions, but the first pass from the defense to the forwards has also been an issue that either underscores the Coyotes need for their young defenseman to grow into that role, or for general manager Don Maloney to acquire another player.

As Tippett noted, the team has also failed to establish a consistent forecheck early and needs more consistent efforts from a group he labels the middle core that includes Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Mikkel Boedker.

“That middle core has got to be the drivers of our team,” Tippett said. “If we expect Shane Doan to carry the load or we expect the kids to carry the load, that’s not realistic. We need our middle core to do more for us.”

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