Yotes Notes: Coyotes survive penalties, use Vermette’s hat trick in comeback win vs. Senators

Dec 21, 2013, 10:46 PM | Updated: 10:46 pm

The Phoenix Coyotes gave the hosting Ottawa Senators seven power plays on Saturday at the Canadian Tire Centre.

Antoine Vermette didn’t notice.

Against his former team, the center grabbed the second hat trick of his career — scoring his third goal of the day in overtime, to give the Coyotes an impressive comeback win, after they trailed 2-0 and 3-2 in the game.

And while the Coyotes had 22 minutes of penalties, they managed to only allow one power play goal, thanks in large part to the impressive netminding of Mike Smith, who stopped 37 of the Senators’ 40 shots on goal.

What’s more? The Coyotes themselves had six power play opportunities and capitalized on two of them — a better ratio than that of their opponents.

Smith’s work in the goal was impressive throughout the day, given the relative lack of help from his undisciplined teammates and struggling defense. But a key moment came late in the third when Vermette, the game’s first star, sacrificed his body to block a hard slapshot and further keep the Coyotes in the hunt.

The Good:

The only goal not scored by Vermette, whose performance was easily the best thing going for the Coyotes on Saturday, came from Radim Vrbata, who logged his 10th goal of the season after beginning the year with a hat trick. It was the second straight game that Vrbata’s line, which has struggled to date, was able to produce a goal.

The Bad:

On Wednesday, Coyotes CEO Anthony LeBlanc told Doug and Wolf that he believe Smith was one of the best goaltenders in the game, despite his not-so-impressive stat sheet.

On Saturday, from an eye-test point of view, Smith indeed looked incredibly impressive, despite allowing three goals on 40 shots. The continued lack of support for the Coyotes’ goalie — coming in the form of penalties and poor defensive discipline — is disheartening to see.

The Senators’ second goal, for example, came via a breakaway, with Zack Smith outskating the Coyotes defense.

Up Next:

The Coyotes’ long road trip through eastern Canada heads south to Buffalo, where they’ll face the Sabres at 5:00 p.m. MDT.

Ottawa Senators' Mark Stone (61) is checked by Arizona Coyotes' Oliver Ekman-Larsson (23) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Fred Chartrand)
Ottawa Senators' Clarke MacArthur (16) fights for the puck with Arizona Coyotes' goaltender Mike Smith (41) and Zbynek Michalek (4) reacts during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Fred Chartrand)
Arizona Coyotes' Zbynek Michalek (4) celebrates with teammates Tobias Rieder (8) and Oliver Ekman-Larsson (23) after scoring against the Ottawa Senators during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Fred Chartrand)
Ottawa Senators' Marc Methot (3) holds the stick of Arizona Coyotes' Kyle Chipchura (24) as Senators goaltender Robin Lehner (40) makes a save during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Fred Chartrand) Ottawa Senator Mark Stone, right, celebrates his goal agains the Phoenix Coyotes with teammates David Legwand (17) Marc Methot (3) Erik Karlsson (65) and Milan Michalek (9) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Fred Chartrand) Ottawa Senators goaltender Robin Lehner (40) makes a save as teammate Mark Borowiecki (74) checks Arizona Coyotes' Tobias Rieder (8) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Fred Chartrand) Ottawa Senators' Mika Zibanejad (93) celebrates his goal against the Arizona Coyotes with teammate Jared Cowan (2) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Fred Chartrand)

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Yotes Notes: Coyotes survive penalties, use Vermette’s hat trick in comeback win vs. Senators