The Arizona Coyotes were blown out again last night, losing 6-0 at home to David Backes and the rest of the St. Louis Blues.
For the Coyotes, it was -- get this -- the 12th time they’d lost a game by three or more goals, the eighth time they’d lost by four or more, and the third time in the last couple of weeks they’d lost by exactly six.
The Coyotes lost just nine games all of last season by three or more goals.
While goalie Mike Smith shouldered much of the blame for what happened last night -- and let’s be honest, his ghastly .882 save percentage is a big reason the Coyotes have been blown out so often -- in his defense, Arizona was outshot 39-23 by the visitors.
“You can’t play like that,” coach Dave Tippett said of his team, per the Arizona Republic. “That’s garbage.”
He added, “We weren’t even close in that game. Let’s be honest. That’s not a goaltending issue. That’s a look-in-the-mirror issue.”
For GM Don Maloney, now that ownership has officially been restructured, decisions can start being made in anticipation of the trade deadline on March 2.
Because one thing is clear -- there will be no playoff games in the desert come April.