Coyotes report: Rookie honors for Domingue, 1,000th game for Tippett

By foxsports
Published

Arizona Coyotes goaltender Louis Domingue, who went 6-3-2 with a 2.20 goals-against average, .925 save percentage and one shutout in 11 appearances, has been named the NHL's Rookie of the Month for January.

Domingue edged Chicago left wing Artemi Panarin (6 goals, 6 assists in 14 games), Buffalo center Jack Eichel (5 goals, 6 assists, 12 games), Winnipeg right wing Nikolaj Ehlers (7 goals, 3 assists, 12 games) and Calgary Flames center Sam Bennett (8 goals, 11 games) for the honor.

Domingue, a fifth-round selection  in the 2010 NHL Draft, allowed two or fewer goals in seven of his 11 appearances. That included his second career shutout, a 26-save performance against the Nashville Predators Jan. 9. Domingue owns a 9-5-3 record with a 2.31 goals-against average, .924 save percentage and two shutouts in 17 outings this season. He joins Edmonton center Connor McDavid, Detroit center Dylan Larkin and Anaheim goaltender John Gibson as Rookie of the Month winners in 2015-16.

Domingue will be back in the net as the Coyotes return from the All-Star Break on Tuesday, hosting the Los Angeles Kings at Gila River Arena. The game will be the 1,000th NHL game coached by Dave Tippett. He ranks eighth among active coaches in games coached and 24th all-time. His 512 career coaching victories ranks 20th all-time.

Tippett is in his seventh season as Coyotes coach, following six seasons with Dallas. He has a 241-196-70 record with the Coyotes and owns the franchise record for most victories.

The Coyotes will play seven of their next nine games at home, but their schedule will be difficult. Following the Pacific Division-leading Kings comes a Thursday night game vs. the Central Division-leading Chicago, then a Friday night road game in Anaheim. The Ducks are the closest pursuers to the Coyotes in the Pacific Division standings.

The February schedule also features visits from Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, Dallas and St. Louis and closes with a five-games-in-eight-days East Coast road trip.