Coyotes hope Goligoski improves as team does
After he joined the rush, accelerating through the neutral zone to give the Coyotes a 3-on-2 advantage over the offensive blue line, defenseman Alex Goligoski looked over his shoulder.
More than a stick length behind him was Hurricanes center Victor Rask, who was hustling to catch up. He finally closed the gap just outside the crease but by then, Goligoski – all alone in front – had accepted a pass, moved it to his forehand and wired it over Carolina goalie Cam Ward Friday en route to a 4-2 win for the Coyotes.
It was just Goligoski’s fourth goal of the season but second in as many games and a clutch finish after a heads-up read – one that certainly merits attention.
So do the blunders, like the turnover he had last Tuesday against the Bruins that led to Boston’s final goal in a 4-1 win.
And perhaps why Goligoski seems to stand out the most when he’s at one extreme or the other is because his value appears to stem from the routine plays that don’t usually land on a highlight reel but are essential to a team’s success.
“There’s a lot of times when it can work in a good way or a bad way,” coach Dave Tippett said of Goligoski’s style, “where you make a mistake and the expectations are higher, and then he scores a great goal and everybody says, ‘Well, where’s that all the time?’ And Alex is one of those guys that falls in the middle and does a lot of things right in between that go unnoticed.
“So when you’re around it every day and watching the video, everything that happens not just the goals-for or goalsagainst, different things jump out at you, and that’s why I think he’s a good player.”
Nearing the end of his first season with the Coyotes after signing a fiveyear, $27.375 million contract last summer, Goligoski believes there’s “a little left to be desired” regarding his performance.
Hyped as a defenseman who could drive possession, the Coyotes have given up 220 more shot attempts than they’ve taken when he’s been on the ice – the worst clip on the team. Tippett acknowledged turnovers and a few tough games. Aside from the Bruins game, Goligoski also struggled Feb. 23 against the Black with hawks – at one point almost sending the puck into his own net.
“We put him in a lot of hard situations that have been hard on everybody, not just him,” Tippett said. “He’s a little bit like Oliver (Ekman-Larsson), up and down a little bit and a little bit of a byproduct of our team, but still a really good pro. It’s hard to find guys that chew up minutes like he does. So there’s lots to like about his game and hopefully as our team gets better, you’ll see improvement in his game.”
And if the Coyotes achieve that progress during Goligoski’s stint, it isn’t hard to see him being a key catalyst because of his role.
“He’s a top-four ‘D’ who can play both sides of special teams,” Tippett said. “He’s just a very intelligent player. That’s what enables him to play in all situations, play left, plays right. He’s a very smart player.”
As one of the few players locked up a long-term contract, Goligoski recognizes the opportunity beyond this season.
Adjusting to a new team, especially after a lengthy stay with a previous organization like the one he had with the Stars, can no doubt take time, but Goligoski feels like he’s settled in with the group.
Now he can focus on helping to grow the team and as long as there are games left on the schedule, there’s still time to establish positive momentum for next season.
“I signed here because I knew I was going to be here for a while and there’s some good young players here and we can start building something,” Goligoski said. “So, yeah, I’m definitely looking toward building this thing.”