Arizona Coyotes @ Vancouver Canucks Instant Recap: Cruising through the Pacific

The Arizona Coyotes won an exciting, high-tempo and hard-hitting game of hockey against a contender for a playoff spot. At one point it seemed like it could have been a blowout in favor of the Coyotes, but things turned around quickly and maintaining the lead required a lot of effort.

Scoring Summary

First Period

No goals were scored in the first period, although both teams had some good chances to accomplish that.  In the first minutes it was Vancouver pushing for an opening goal, but Louis Domingue was able to protect his net. The Coyotes then started to get some shots of their own, with one of them actually being on target but the play was whistled dead just earlier.

Second Period

1-0 ARI goal @ 06:55: Shane Doan redirection, assisted by Connor Murphy and Brad Richardson. The Coyotes manage to score the opening goal. Richardson makes a pass from behind the net to Murphy, who shoots the puck and it redirects off Doan before finding it's way into the net.

1-1 VAN goal @ 13:41: Bo Horvat wrist shot on the power play, unassisted. Michael Stone makes the turnover in front of the net as he fails to clear the puck, and Horvat takes advantage to tie the game.

2-1 ARI goal @ 14:00: Laurent Dauphin wrist shot, assisted by Tobias Rieder and Louis Domingue. Not much time for the Canucks to enjoy their goal. Dauphin drives into the net from the left side and makes a backhand shot that is saved by Jacob Markstrom. Tobias Rieder though gets the rebound and passes it right back to Dauphin, who scores his first NHL goal and celebrates accordingly. That was also Domingue's first NHL point.

The first career celly for Laurent Dauphin is fantastic. Congrats! #NHLFirsts https://t.co/MnlSPxqez6

— NHL (@NHL) January 5, 2016

Third Period

3-1 ARI goal @ 1:13: Shane Doan wrist shot on the power play, assisted by Tobias Rieder and Antoine Vermette. After a great effort by Vermette to keep the offensive play alive, he passes the puck to Rieder in front of the net while laying on his belly. Rieder beats Markstrom on a nice move, but the puck hits the post and just slides across the scoring line. The Captain though is right there to push the back inside the net and score one of the easiest goals of his career.

4-1 ARI goal @ 04:35: Michael Stone slapshot, assisted by Mikkel Boedker and Max Domi. Scratch that. Vancouver challenges the play and upon further review, the goal is no good due to Arizona being offside earlier.

3-2 VAN goal @ 04:41: Daniel Sedin wrist shot, assisted by Henrik Sedin and Christopher Tanev. So instead of a three-goal lead for the Coyotes, Vancouver is back within one. The two brothers combine nicely on the counter attack, as Daniel receives a pass from Henrik and quickly shoots the puck over Domingue's shoulder.

The Canucks would get a lot of chances later on the game to tie it and send it to overtime, but King Louis stood tall and made some impressive saves. Coyotes win the game 3-2.

Stats

Paw Prints

• For your Vancouver Canucks needs, visit Nucks Misconduct.
• Daniel Sedin had a bad break on the first period, when Michael Stone caught the puck in mid-air and accidentally threw it at his face. That caused some damage on his teeth, but after some medical treatment he returned on the ice.
  
• Boyd Gordon made his return tonight after missing the last four games with an upper-body injury. His presence was much needed at the thin Center position, and he had a great game. Martin Hanzal on the other hand did not return tonight, but he is expected to come back soon, perhaps even at Calgary on Thursday.
• Louis Domingue had another solid performance as Arizona's starting goaltender, making once again his case that he can be the most consistent option the Coyotes currently can use. His spectacular saves were a key to tonight's victory.
  
• Shane Doan now has 15 goals and 21 points on the season, closing in on more franchise records. How old is he again?

Looking Ahead

The Coyotes finish their Western Canada road trip on Thursday when they face the Calgary Flames. That game begins at 7:00 PM Arizona time.