'Yotes Notes: Dvorak Nets Lone Goal in Lopsided Loss

GLENDALE -Rookie Christian Dvorak's second NHL goal was the lone bright spot in an otherwise forgettable game for the Coyotes on Wednesday night at Gila Rivera Arena.
Dvorak's goal tied the score at 1 less than a minute into the second period, but the Vancouver Canucks scored three goals in a 3:31 span shortly after Dvorak's goal en route to a 4-1 victory.

With Brad Richardson injured and Dylan Strome back in junior hockey, the Coyotes are looking to Dvorak to get comfortable at center. He played well on Wednesday over 14:24 of ice time, and scored his goal from in close by redirecting a shot from the point by defenseman Tony DeAngelo past Canucks goalie Ryan Miller at 0:58 of the second period.
"I've been working on tips in practice lately," Dvorak said. "Tony had a great shot there, found a lane, and luckily it found a way to go in."
• Goalie Mike Smith was replaced after allowing a fourth goal on Vancouver's 17th shot at 6:49 of the second period.
"I was awful," Smith said. "I was sleeping right from the first goal and right through on. It's not even close ... It was obvious that I wasn't feeling it tonight but it's no excuse. You have to get the job done. I think we worked hard for a couple days in practice this week and worked on a lot of good things. I thought we did a lot of those good things tonight. It's one of those nights where we did a lot of good things in front of of me, and tonight I dropped the ball."
Smith knew he would get yanked after he allowed a soft goal to Alex Burrows.
"You can't let that in," Smith said. "It's as simple as that ... It's a goal that has to be stopped, and it was obvious after that goal went in my night was over ... It's one of those nights you have a short memory and get back to work."

• Head Coach Dave Tippett said the loss wasn't all Smith's fault.
"You need players to make plays," Tippett said. "We've got to get plays made and not turn it over. That's what it is. We need saves. It's all well and good that everybody's willing to fall on the sword, but let's just do the job. Do the job together, and we'll find ways to win."

• With his assist on Dvorak's goal, DeAngelo extended his point streak to three games. The rookie blueliner has notched five points in his first seven NHL games.

• Captain Shane Doan skated in the 1,484th game of his NHL career, tying Rod Brind'Amour for 20th place on the NHL's all-time games played list.