You can't win without solid goaltending.
That was the case in Alberta on Tuesday, as the Arizona Coyotes dropped a 5-2 decision to the Edmonton Oilers despite carrying the lead through 20 minutes.
Arizona's backup netminder Louis Domingue was tapped for the game. Coyotes bench boss Dave Tippett described the opportunity as a "good challenge" for the second stringer who has struggled through his sophomore season, according to Sarah McLellan of azcentral sports.
After recording 15 wins a year ago and running with the top job in the absence of injured starter Mike Smith, Domingue has struggled through 2016-17, coming up with just five wins through 22 appearances.
It hasn't been a successful season in the desert - Arizona sits second-last league-wide - so Domingue's .895 save percentage and 3.29 goals-against average is understandable. But poor performances up front haven't stopped Smith from bringing stability in the crease; he owns .918 and 2.83 marks on the season.
Among the goaltenders with as much crease time as Domingue this season, no netminder has posted a lower save percentage, while Semyon Varlamov of the Colorado Avalanche - the one team which ranks worse than the Coyotes - is the lone goaltender with a higher GAA, coming in at 3.38.
Following the loss to the Oilers, Domingue was short on an explanation, telling McLellan, "I got no answer for you guys. I play once a month and it wasn't good enough so I have zero answer."
As for his coach, Tippett didn't mince words about the defeat, noting that Domingue played "very average" and calling Mark Letestu's game-winning goal "very stoppable."
Domingue, 24, has one year remaining on his contract with a $1.05-million cap hit.
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