Mike Smith's strong start to the season has hit a bump in the road.
After missing 12 games with a lower-body injury, the Arizona Coyotes netminder looked to be back to his winning ways, holding down a 2-0-1 record and .923 save percentage through three games.
That came crashing down Wednesday night when the veteran keeper was yanked after allowed four goals on 17 shots at the hands of the Vancouver Canucks.
Smith was quick to take responsibility for his poor play.
"I was awful. I was sleeping right from the first goal," Smith told reporters, including Craig Morgan of Arizona Sports. "It was not even close. We did a lot of good things in front of me and didn't get rewarded for it tonight, but a lot of that comes solely on my shoulder's tonight ... I dropped the ball."
The Coyotes own a league-worst record of 6-10-2, with 14 points through 18 games.
"It was obvious that I wasn't feeling it tonight, but that's no excuse. You have to get the job done," Smith added. "It was obvious that after that (fourth) goal went in, my night was over."
Coyotes coach Dave Tippett was not pleased with the loss.
"It's all well and good that everybody's willing to fall on the sword, but let's just do the job," Tippett told Sarah McLellan of The Arizona Republic.
Smith and the Coyotes will have a shot at redemption when they face their Pacific Division foe Edmonton Oilers on Friday.
Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.