Sarah McLellan

azcentral sports

LOS ANGELES – Coyotes goalie Louis Domingue retreated to the visitor’s dressing room in Staples Center on Thursday not long after the organized portion of the team’s morning skate had ended.

He quickly peeled off his equipment, declined to talk and then disappeared.

It was a peculiar scene; typically, the backup for the night’s game is among the last players to leave the ice as he logs extra work with the healthy scratches. Coach Dave Tippett wasn’t sure if Domingue had tweaked something during the session and also didn’t know if he would be able to back up against the Kings.

He wasn't.

Domingue is considered day-to-day with a lower-body injury, and the Coyotes recalled Marek Langhamer from the American Hockey League on an emergency basis. He arrived in time to take Domingue’s usual post at the end of the bench, amplifying the spotlight on a role that has been shaky for the Coyotes, as Domingue has struggled in his first full season as the team’s No. 2.

“He’s what we have, so he’s gotta keep working at it and when he gets his opportunity, play well,” Tippett said. “Simple as that. He’ll get more opportunity and when he gets it, he’s shown that he can do it. He set a standard for himself. We expect that standard. Dropped off a bit this year, but no reason why he can’t get it back.”

Domingue fell to 5-13-1 after getting stung in a 5-2 loss to the Oilers on Tuesday, his first start since Jan. 19. Among goalies who have played at least 22 games like Domingue, the 24-year-old ranks last in save percentage (.895) and second-to-last in goals-against average (3.29) – a far cry from the steadiness he showed a year ago when he won 15 games and posted a .911 save percentage and 2.75 goals-against average to merit a two-year, $2.1 million contract by the Coyotes to lock down their backup job.

“It’s a hard role to have,” Tippett said. “You don’t ever get in a rhythm, it feels like. He’s gotta keep working. We know he’s a good player. He’s played well before for us. He’s just gotta keep working at it.”

After Tuesday’s game, Domingue alluded to the sporadic nature of the gig when he said, “I play once a month, and it wasn’t good enough. So I have zero answer.” But when asked if he felt that made it tough to find a rhythm, he said, “No. I gotta find it.”

Goalie coach Jon Elkin feels Domingue’s challenge isn’t so much adapting to the backup job as learning what it takes to be a professional, and that’s a process that varies for each player. And Domingue’s experience this season isn’t uncommon.

“It takes time for people to understand what they need to do to always be at their optimal regardless of the situation, regardless if it’s the backup or first string,” Elkin said. “It’s more a thing of learning about yourself and understanding what you need to do, and it takes different people different amounts of time.”

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Elkin praised Domingue’s work ethic the past month and noticed plenty of solid saves in Tuesday’s game. But two mistakes – Domingue wasn’t set in time for the game-winning goal and he lost track of the puck on No. 5 – were costly.

“To be consistent and really aware all the time through a whole game, it’s tough,” he said. “It’s tough. Another lesson learned, and it’s just up to him to eventually put it all together.”

Domingue’s next chance to snap out of his funk could come as soon as next week, with the Coyotes on the road for a back-to-back Thursday and Friday. And even though practice time is valuable, the strides he needs to make have to show up in games.

“He’s a smart guy and he has talent,” Elkin said. “So whenever I see that in a guy, I’m hoping it’s just a matter of time.”

McGinn sits

Winger Jamie McGinn was a healthy scratch for the first time this season against the Kings.

“Can play a lot better,” Tippett said. “He’s gotta be a heavy, competitive guy. He’d like to chip in more points than he is, but he’s gotta be really engaged in the game – physically engaged. We haven’t seen that enough lately.”

Signed to a three-year, $10 million contract in the summer, McGinn was brought in to a pesky presence around the front of the net that could create offense. But through 50 games, he’s managed just eight goals and 14 points – this after scoring 22 goals a season ago.

“It’s time to work on some stuff,” McGinn said. “Never good when you’re out of the lineup. There’s not much else to say. It’s just not good enough.”

Injury update

Winger Lawson Crouse did not rejoin the team in Los Angeles for their three-game road trip finale as he continues to recover from a lower-body injury.

Crouse did get on the ice Wednesday and Thursday and hasn’t been ruled out for Saturday’s game against the Sharks.

“He skated, which is a positive,” Tippett said. “We’ll see where he gets by the weekend, but he’s moving in the right direction.”

Reach the reporter at sarah.mclellan@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8276. Follow her at twitter.com/azc_mclellan.