Five concerns as the Arizona Coyotes open a five-game road trip

NEWARK, N.J. — Five games into the 2015-16 season, it’s hard to get a read on the Arizona Coyotes. Goalie Mike Smith, rookies Max Domi, Anthony Duclair and second-year forward Tobias Rieder have impressed. The power play, some veterans and puck movement have not the last couple of games.

While it is far too early to form any conclusions, here are five concerns as the Coyotes open a five-game road trip against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday.

ANTOINE VERMETTE

It’s difficult to know how much Vermette is ailing after leaving Thursday’s game against Minnesota with a lower-body injury, but in five games, the only stat Vermette has really padded this season is his ironman streak of 480 consecutive games. He doesn’t have a point, he has just six shots (11^th on the team) and he hasn’t had a noticeable impact on games. Vermette has had the luxury of playing with Mikkel Boedker and Max Domi, which should afford the opportunity to generate chances. Maybe he’s hurting, maybe’s dealing with a Cup hangover after winning a championship last season with Chicago, but it’s time for the Coyotes’ highest paid center to get going. He’s not alone, though.

“There’s a group there that if they could chip in it would certainly be a plus,” coach Dave Tippett said. “Score by committee: That’s the way it has to be in the league right now.”

OLIVER EKMAN-LARSSON

Tippett broke up the Ekman-Larsson-Michael Stone pairing against Boston and put Zbynek Michalek with OEL because he was unhappy with his star defenseman’s game.

Ekman-Larsson got off to a slow start last season as well, but that was directly tied to the weight he gained to try and be harder to play against in the corners and in puck battles. This season, Tippett believes Ekman-Larsson is trying to do too much, stays too long on shifts and ends up accomplishing less.

“Very average; probably below average,” Tippett said when asked to evaluate Ekman-Larsson’s game against Minnesota. “(He’s) just got to get focused and play a little harder.

“(Z) drags Oliver into the fight a little more with a little more of a defending mindset. I think that will help him greatly at the other end.”

Coyotes (3-2) at Devils (1-3-1)
When: 4:00 p.m.

Where: Prudential Center, Newark, N.J.

TV: FOX Sports Arizona

Radio: ESPN 620 AM

Scouting the Devils: New coach John Hynes got his first win of the season when the Devils beat the Rangers 2-1 in overtime on Sunday on Lee Stempniak’s goal at Madison Square Garden. … New Jersey forward Patrik Elias is still out of the lineup after offseason surgery on his right knee. … F Adam Henrique leads the team with three goals and is tied with Mike Cammalleri in points with four. … G Cory Schneider is off to another strong start with a 1.63 goals against average and a .945 save percentage.

MIKKEL BOEDKER

Boedker has a lot on his mind. He is playing in the final year of his contract after a third summer of less-than-amicable negotiations. He knows this is an important year for his financial future. Adding to his stress is the challenge of playing the point on the power play where he has done well bringing the puck up ice, but looks uncomfortable and ineffective once the team is settled in the zone.

The Coyotes need Boedker to be one of their leading goal scorers this season. There just aren’t a lot of other options and it’s not fair or realistic to expect Duclair or Domi to continue at their current pace. It might be time for the coaching staff to simplify or familiarize Boedker’s role to get him going.

THE POWER PLAY

The Coyotes have allowed more shorthanded goals (3) than they have scored with the man advantage (2). The team’s zone entries and possession time have been solid, but the Coyotes are not getting pucks through to the net and there have been some mistakes at the blue line that have led to loss of possession or opponent chances the other way.

Assistant coach Newell Brown said he wants to be patient with Boedker at the point, but Boedker has looked uncomfortable and hesitant to shoot. A big part of a defenseman’s responsibilities on the power play is getting pucks through to the net.

Is it time for the Coyotes to put Michael Stone and Ekman-Larsson together on the point and move Boedker to the half wall where he feels at home? The move might also allow Boedker to stop thinking so much and get the rest of his offensive game in shape. Is it also time for the Coyotes to give Stefan Elliott another look on the second power play unit, even if it comes at the expense of defenseman Zbynek Michalek or another forward? The power play has hurt the Coyotes in the early going.

THE PUCK-MOVING ABILITIES OF THE DEFENSE

This is directly tied to the power play and so far it hasn’t been great. Tippett noted after a 5-3 loss to Boston that the team couldn’t complete two and three passes in a row so they ended up turning the puck over and spending a lot of time trapped in their own end.

Like the power play, this is where the Coyotes miss Keith Yandle most. Ekman-Larsson is the only defenseman who can be counted on right now to get the breakout going. The Coyotes need Stone and Connor Murphy to take another step forward in this area and, as noted above, it might be time to give Elliott another look.

INJURY UPDATE

The Coyotes recalled wing Matthias Plachta from Springfield of the American Hockey League on Monday, and placed forward Joe Vitale on injured reserve. Vitale was injured in a fight with Boston defenseman Kevan Miller early in the second period of Saturday’s game. Vitale took several big punches to the face and appeared to be having some difficulty with both his jaw and his eye as he sat in the penalty box. He eventually went to the training room and did not return. The Coyotes did not provide further details on the nature of his injury.

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