In five seasons, goaltender Mike Smith experienced small bites of success that didn't last for various reasons. Reunited in Phoenix with coach Dave Tippett, Smith is getting the chance to be the top guy and so far is making the most of it.
DENVER – He is 29 years old now and in his sixth NHL season, long enough for Mike Smith to finally be given the chance he's been waiting for, the opportunity to carry the load as a No. 1 goalie for an entire season.
Smith is getting it with the Phoenix Coyotes and, so far, making the most if it.
"It's an ongoing process," Smith told Hockey Primetime. "It's a work in process every day to get better. The mentality I have this year is to battle every single game and don't look too far ahead. All you can worry about is the next game. I think if I have that mentality and if I keep working like I have, I think we'll have a successful season."
One of the league's biggest goalies at 6-feet-4 and 215 pounds, Smith signed a two-year, $4 million contract with the Coyotes on July 1 as a free agent, reuniting him with Dave Tippett, his first NHL coach with the Dallas Stars.
The Coyotes were in need of a goalie after trading Ilya Bryzgalov's signing rights to Philadelphia in June, knowing they couldn't afford to keep him. The Flyers signed Bryzgalov, who backstopped the Coyotes to playoff spots the past two seasons, to a nine-year, $51 million deal.
"The opportunity to play, that was the biggest thing," Smith said of his decision to head to the Arizona desert. "Having a guy like (Coyotes goalie coach) Sean Burke to work with and Tippett, who I had in Dallas and who I have a lot of respect for, didn't hurt either.
"Those things and just being with a good bunch of guys. I hadn't heard a bad thing about anyone in this locker room. I'm excited that I'm here and I'm glad that we're doing well."
Smith has gotten off to a good start with a 5-2-2 record while starting nine of the Coyotes' first 12 games. He owns a 2.40 goals-against average and .927 save percentage.
"Our goaltending has been solid and our special teams have been pretty solid, so it's a whole team effort," Tippett said of his club, which will need to be strong in both areas for a chance to earn a playoff berth in the hotly contested Western Conference.
Smith has experienced some good times in the past but never for very long. His best season came as a rookie in 2006-07 with Dallas when he put together a 12-5-2 record with three shutouts and a 2.23 goals-against average in 23 games.
Smith had a 12-9-0 record with two more shutouts the following season when the Stars traded him to Tampa Bay in February 2008 in a five-player deal that landed Brad Richards. Smith finished the year 3-10-0 with the Lightning but was playing well in 2008-09 when he suffered a concussion and missed the final 32 games.
 Last year, while serving as the backup to Dwayne Roloson, Smith had a 13-6-1 record with a 2.90 average and one shutout, but he also played five games for Norfolk in the American Hockey League. Getting sent to the minors left a sour taste in his mouth but motivated him to get back to the NHL. After being recalled by the Lightning, Smith saw action in parts of two first-round playoff games, the first postseason experience of his career.
After joining the Coyotes in the summer, Smith played well enough in training camp to nail down the No. 1 goalie job in a competition with Jason LaBarbera.
Smith said he doesn't feel any added pressure replacing Bryzgalov, who won 78 games the past two seasons, and is feeling more and more comfortable adjusting to Burke's system.
"I think I've adapted to his system and I'm starting to feel confident in it," he said. "For the most part we're keeping a lot of shots to the outside, and that makes it a lot easier for a goaltender to handle. The guys have been doing a real good job in front of me."
Smith is doing just fine behind them and looking more and more like the No. 1 goalie he's always wanted to be.
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