Game Recap
The Arizona Coyotes five-game road trip ended with a whimper last night as the team fell 5-2 to the Winnipeg Jets. After a solid first half, the Coyotes allowed the Jets to take over and dominate the second on their way to a win.
There was no score for much of the opening period, as both teams seemed to be taking their time figuring each other out. Arizona finally got the board three-quarters of the way through the opening frame, with Matias Maccelli getting his third of the season after picking up a loose puck in front of Laurent Brossoit and firing it home.
J.J. Moser and Alex Kerfoot assisted on the goal, which was a bit of broken play. Moser’s pass deflected off Dylan Samberg and ended up in a perfect position for Maccelli.
Unfortunately, the Coyotes couldn’t keep the lead, and the Jets soon countered. Mark Scheifele backhanded a shot past Karel Vejmelka after the Coyotes let him skate to the middle of the ice to tie the game 1-1.
Less than a minute later, Vladislav Namestnikov made it 2-1 when Vejmelka went out to play the puck behind the net, only to back off because of its speed and position and retreat to the net. Namestnikov got to the puck first and banked a shot off Lawson Crouse to give the Jets the lead late in the first.
Arizona got a late power play to end the first and start the second, but they couldn’t convert with the man advantage. They did manage one last goal just over six minutes in when Travis Boyd and Matt Dumba got in on a two-on-one. Boyd passed the puck over to Dumba, who tipped it in for his second of the season.
Arizona had their second and final power play a minute later, but they failed to generate anything for the second time. Arizona’s greatest strength is their power play, but it gave them very little last night.
Winnipeg didn’t take long to respond, with Kyle Connor netting his 14th of the season in the latter half of the second period. The Jets seemed to take over, and Josh Morrissey added to the lead early in the final frame. By the time Mason Appleton hit the empty net, the game was over.
Arizona did not come out hard enough in the back half of the game. At the 10-minute mark of the second period, the score was tied 2-2, with both teams recording 15 shots on goal. Arizona would finish the game with just three more shots, while the Jets would record 11.
Part of the result could be attributed to losses to key players, especially Barrett Hayton. Hayton is week-to-week with an upper-body injury sustained against the Columbus Blue Jackets, and you could tell the team was missing their top center. Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz were both held off the scoresheet.
Lines
Three Stars
- Mark Scheifele – Goal and two assists
- Kyle Connor – Goal and assist
- Matias Maccelli – Goal
Next Game
The Coyotes return home to Arizona to host the Los Angeles Kings this Monday at 7:00 p.m.