Game Recap
After a rough road trip that saw them drop all three games, the Arizona Coyotes are back with a vengeance. The Arizona Coyotes beat the Buffalo Sabres in their rematch at home 2-0, which saw Karel Vejmelka register his first shutout of the season.
Despite the score, it wasn’t a dominant game by the Coyotes. Both teams seemed evenly matched, with neither team giving an inch for most of the game. Maybe because both teams were in the second game of a back-to-back, but neither team scored in the opening frame, and both registered nine shots on goal.
Arizona finally got on the board late in the second period, with Clayton Keller getting his tenth of the season from Alex Kerfoot.
Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen attempted to play the puck behind the net, only to see Kerfoot steal it and pass it up to Keller, who easily shot it into a wide-open net. It was probably Keller’s easiest goal of the season.
Unfortunately, the Coyotes couldn’t capitalize on the power play they were awarded soon after. Thankfully, Karel Vejmelka was playing at the top of his game because it was clear that he needed to stand on his head last night.
Vejmelka would stay locked in to start the final period and get some relief nine and a half minutes in. That is when Logan Cooley sprung a streaking Liam O’Brien, who beat two Buffalo players and backhanded a shot bar-down to make it 2-0.
O’Brien had a great look in the first period from Cooley, so it was great to see him get rewarded. It was also good that the Coyotes didn’t stop at the one-goal lead and kept pushing.
Luckily, the goal was just insurance, and Vejmelka continued to stand on his head. The Coyotes’ netminder would make 28 saves, giving the Coyotes back-to-back shutouts.
Like the game against San Jose, it was far from perfect. The Coyotes’ power play failed to score on either attempt, and the team relied a bit too much on their goaltender. But with that win, the Coyotes have overtaken the St. Louis Blues for the second Wild Card spot and are back in a playoff position. How long they will hold that spot remains to be seen, but the Coyotes’ destiny is in their hands right now.
Lines
Three Stars
- Karel Vejmelka – 28 saves on 28 shots
- Liam O’Brien – Goal
- Alex Kerfoot – Assist
Next Game
The Coyotes will stay at Mullett Arena to host the Ottawa Senators this Tuesday.