Game Recap
After two games the Arizona Coyotes’ five-game road trip is off to a wild start. After being limited to a single goal in a 2-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues, the Coyotes responded with a 7-5 win over the Nashville Predators last night.
Like their last matchup, the Coyotes had to play a lot of catchup. Fortunately for the Desert Dogs, that is much easier when you do not take seven penalties in the first two periods.
The Predators struck first with early goals from Kiefer Sherwood and Filip Forsberg. Less than seven and a half minutes into the game, and the Coyotes were already down 2-0.
Thankfully, the Coyotes came ready to play and didn’t take long to respond. Michael Carcone got the Coyotes on the board first with his fifth of the season midway through the opening frame, and Troy Stecher tied it up later in the period when he picked up a loose puck after leaving the penalty box and got in all alone on Juuse Saros.
Unfortunately, the Predators dashed any joy over the Coyotes rallying back from a two-goal deficit shortly after. Dante Fabbro got a late goal for the Predators, and the first period ended with the Coyotes down 3-2.
Arizona learned early in the second period that not all teams are the St. Louis Blues, and you probably don’t want to give them multiple power play opportunities. Ryan O’Reilly lit the lamp for the Predators on their second power play, and suddenly, the Coyotes had another two-goal deficit to overcome.
Thankfully, the Coyotes responded in the best way possible. Arizona scored three unanswered goals in the second period.
Clayton Keller got the Yotes going with his sixth of the season on the power play from Logan Cooley and Sean Durzi. The power play has been a big part of the Coyotes’ success this season, and it is great to see it continue to pay off in big moments.
Alex Kerfoot followed that up five minutes later with his first as a Coyote from Travis Boyd and Matt Dumba, tying the game midway through. It wasn’t a pretty goal that saw Kerfoot knock a rebound home after going hard to the net, but it was exactly what the Coyotes needed.
The third period would end with Carcone getting his second of the night and sixth of the season from J.J. Moser and Connor Ingram. Arizona had their first lead after coming back twice, and the Coyotes had all of the momentum going into the final frame.
But after taking two two-goal leads, the Predators were not ready to give up. Nashville drew two third-period penalties, and while they didn’t score, they did give the Predators plenty of momentum. Filip Forsberg finally broke through with his second of the night just under 14 minutes in, tying the game again.
Thankfully, the Coyotes’ power play came up big again. Tommy Novak was in the box for delay of game for sending the puck over the glass, and Sean Durzi fired a rocket through traffic on the resulting power play to give the Coyotes a 6-5 lead.
Arizona’s power play would be the difference maker after helping mount the second comeback and scoring the game-winner. One Nick Bjugstad empty net goal two minutes later, and that was it for the Predators.
A 7-5 game where the team needs to come back from two-goal deficits twice is far from ideal, but it may have been just what the Coyotes needed. After failing to come back against the Blues, the Coyotes showed a dedication and drive to win that gives you hope. In a perfect world, the Coyotes would play every game flawlessly, but it is nice to see they can overcome mistakes in our messy real world.
Lines
Three Stars
- Michael Carcone – 2 goals
- Filip Forsberg – 2 goals and an assist
- Clayton Keller – Goal and two assists
Next Game
The Coyotes next play the Dallas Stars on Tuesday as the road trip continues.