DENVER -- Mike McKenna last played an NHL game Dec. 23, 2013. He insisted it wasn't a big deal.
"I've played a lot in the American League this year," the Coyotes goalie said before his start Monday in Colorado. "Game experience is game experience, regardless of your level as a goalie. You're in that flow. You have that feel of the game so I think it's a little bit easier for me."
Unfortunately for the 31-year-old veteran, nothing was easy in a 5-2 loss to the Avalanche at Pepsi Center -- the Coyotes' fourth straight defeat. McKenna's movements were rushed, his rebound control lacking and, in a point that cannot be overemphasized, the team in front of him wasn't up to the challenge of containing the Avs' skill, speed and effort.
Colorado tied a franchise record with two goals nine seconds apart in the game's first three minutes, three seconds. The Avs scored three first-period goals on 15 shots and they coasted to their second straight win to stay within a pack of eight teams battling for the Western Conference's final four playoff spots.
On the flip side, the Coyotes went without a shot in the second period, marking just the third time in franchise history that happened and the first time since March 24, 2003 at Calgary. Arizona managed just 17 shots in the game, which tied a season low (Dec. 20 vs. Los Angeles).
"Our execution wasn't at an NHL level tonight and our work ethic was right behind it, hence you get a game like that," coach Dave Tippett said. "It was real quiet this morning in here. It was real subdued. We were nervous about it and then we got exactly what we thought was going to happen."
Colorado forward Cody McLeod opened the scoring when he corralled Paul Carey's bouncing shot with Coyotes defenseman Brandon Gormley fronting him. McKenna stopped McLeod's initial shot, but Gormley couldn't close the gap before McLeod banged home his own rebound.
The Av-all-alone theme was common throughout. Colorado found lots of room and little resistance against a Coyotes defense playing without injured veteran Zbynek Michalek. That made McKenna's challenge all the greater.
The Coyotes got one goal back on Oliver Ekman-Larsson's 17th goal of the season from the left circle, but Colorado answered on Nick Holden's power-play goal from the point. On that play, Alex Tanguay screened McKenna but was positioned slightly right of the goalie with the shot coming from McKenna's left, allowing him the opportunity to look around the screen.
Tyson Barrie and Gabriel Landeskog added unmarked second-period goals to turn the game into a laugher and mark the 16th time this season the Coyotes allowed at least five goals. Though the team was lifeless in front of McKenna, Tippett never thought about pulling him because he said Mike Smith was feeling a bit under the weather.
McKenna was 18-14 with a 2.09 goals-against average, a .933 save percentage and five shutouts in Portland. But he owned a career 3.40 goals-against average and a .891 save percentage in 21 NHL starts before Monday. His first start in more than a year didn't help those numbers or his confidence.
"It's goaltending and it's hockey. Whether it starts out slowly or quickly you've got to be ready for it," he said. "My only objective is to get in front of the puck and I didn't do enough of that early on, unfortunately."
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