Game Recap
The Arizona Coyotes stole a point against the Dallas Stars last night, falling 4-3 in overtime. Arizona stayed competitive against the top team in their division, even if the result wasn’t exactly what they hoped for.
It was not the cleanest start for the Coyotes. Juuso Välimäki took a penalty less than a minute in when he closed his hand over the puck, and the Coyotes started the game shorthanded.
Arizona managed to kill the penalty, but it had been almost five minutes without a Coyotes’ shot on goal. That all changed with Clayton Keller getting his seventh of the season from Barrett Hayton to give the Coyotes an early lead.
After a rough start, the goal put the Coyotes on the right track for a while. Unfortunately, Arizona couldn’t finish the period with the lead, as defenseman Esa Lindell tied the game with just over two minutes left.
The second period would see the Coyotes go on a penalty spree that would cost them. Arizona took three calls in seven, with Juuso Välimäki, Nick Schmaltz, and Matt Dumba all taking trips to the box. Roope Hintz would give the Stars their first lead on the Välimäki power play, but the Coyotes managed to kill off the latter two penalties, which overlapped, giving the Stars over a minute of 5-on-3 play.
Down by a goal, the Coyotes needed to have a big third period. They got a golden chance to tie it up with their second power play midway through the final frame, and they took it with Jason Zucker getting his third of the season from Matias Maccelli and J.J. Moser.
It was Zucker’s first goal since returning from injury, and it was a big one. And just over two minutes later, Lawson Crouse followed it up with his six of the season from Sean Durzi, giving the Coyotes a 3-2 lead.
It was a great goal from Crouse, who is proving to be a big part of the Coyotes’ offense early in the season. Unfortunately for the Coyotes, it was also the start of the end.
The Stars tied the game shortly after, with Tyler Seguin getting too much free space and getting his third of the season. The Stars would finish regulation strong, outshooting the Coyotes 35-24, despite the shots being 26-23 after the Crouse goal.
And it didn’t take long for the Stars to win the game in overtime. Just 42 seconds in, Matt Duchene notched his sixth of the season, and Dallas extended their win streak to four.
The Stars are a contender, so the Coyotes keeping up with them is a good sign. But it is hard not to be frustrated by the penalties in the second and the inability of the Desert Dogs to build off their league. A point against a top team is great, but the Coyotes could have finished with two if they had done some things better.
Lines
Three Stars
- Matt Duchene – Goal and an assist
- Tyler Seguin – Goal and an assist
- Lawson Crouse – Goal
Next Game
The Coyotes will play the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. as the road trip continues.