Coyotes rookie Max Domi talks highlight goal, celebration against Stars
Feb 19, 2016, 5:42 PM
Max Domi shows off his SPEED pic.twitter.com/sisXsWhcqs
— Hockey Instinct (@HockeyInstinct) February 19, 2016
Arizona Coyotes rookie Max Domi hadn’t scored a goal in more than a month, so it became fitting his first goal since Jan. 12 came at a turning point Thursday against the Dallas Stars.
Coach Dave Tippett called Domi’s first of two goals “dynamic.” It gave Arizona a 2-1 lead in an eventual 6-3 win.
In the moment, Domi’s celebration indicated the 20-year-old knew the gravity of the goal.
“I hadn’t been able to put the puck in the back of the net too often lately so it definitely was a sigh of relief,” Domi said on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM’s Burns and Gambo show. “That game was a huge game for us. Just to get the boys going like that felt pretty good. Obviously that’s a really good hockey team over there. A goal like that just kind of helps get guys going, I guess.”
The score was impressive in a vacuum of highlight reels, but the deeper meaning might act as a key point in this season if the Coyotes continue to chase a wild card playoff berth.
That’s because Tippett, for the first time this year, skated Domi and fellow rookie Anthony Duclair against a first line to equalize Dallas’ speed.
“Whenever a teammate or a coach gives you some sort of feedback, positive like that, and challenge — they won’t challenge like that if they don’t trust you can do it,” Domi said. “For us to overcome that and find a way to get through was pretty cool.”
The result: the left wing speeding past the Stars for a GIF-worthy score and then firing off a celebration worthy of its own mention.
someone requested Domi goal celebration pic.twitter.com/y5zrmZcSd1
— Stephanie (@myregularface) February 19, 2016
Domi also discussed his relationship with his father, former NHL star Tie Domi, on the Burns and Gambo show.
Indeed, it seems the Coyotes’ rookie has gotten a few celebration tips from his pops over the years.
