Coyotes providing plenty of reasons for cautious optimism with 2-0 start

The puck went right to Martin Hanzal, whose shot missed the net, but the Penguins, who were still out of position from the odd play at he blue line, were unable to react quickly enough and Anthony Duclair scooped up the rebound.

Here’s a 33-year-old veteran which many say is no longer capable of soaring to the kinds of heights he reached during the 2011-12 season. Arizona beat the Los Angeles Kings and Pittsburgh in consecutive games both seasons. Goalie Mike Smith looked like the 2012 vintage for a second straight game.

In an attempt to regain past glory and salvage his career, the Coyotes let previous goaltending coach Sean Burke walk this summer and brought in Jon Elkin, Smith’s old goalie coach. Arizona had the second-worst record in the National Hockey League and looked every bit as bad throughout the season.

His sparkling. 971 save percentage is a big – perhaps the biggest reason – why the Coyotes are 2-0-0 and instilling a wealth of optimism in Coyotes country.

Penguins center Sidney Crosby does not have a shot in two games, just the fourth time in his career that has happened.

Arizona Coyotes’ Brad Richardson (12) checks Pittsburgh Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin (71), of Russian Federation, into the boards during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, October 10, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz.

“I feel comfortable where my game’s at right now”, Smith said. Fleury made 37 saves in a losing effort. There was a great deal of energy in the building and this one was a real confidence-booster. “Lines don’t matter. We just got to play our way”. “We talked about how this team starts, especially in their home opener”, Johnston said. Still, he was able to stop Nick Bonino in front and then slid across the crease to stop Daniel Sprong in the final five minutes.

“He’s just in a groove, stopping everything”, Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said of Smith. “Now, having Kessel get a goal in one of his first two games has to be encouraging for the Penguins, but the hard truth is that they acquired him to enhance their offense, not constitute it. And as good as goalie Marc-Andre Fleury was during the Penguins’ season-opening losses at Dallas and Arizona – “[Fleury] has been unbelievable for us”, right winger Patric Hornqvist said – even he can only stretch a half-goal per game so far.

But there has to be a counterpoint to all of the back slapping and positive feedback.

During camp, Tippett said if the Coyotes were going to climb the ladder, growth and education must be key variables.

The Penguins were 0-for-2 on the power play, leaving them 0-for-9 on the season.

Marc-Andre Fleury will get the start in goal for the Penguins Saturday night in their game against the Coyotes.

“My goal was just a scrap at the net and I just shoveled into the goal”, Martinook said.