Game Recap
In what first appeared to be a case of déjà vu, the Arizona Coyotes flipped the script, coming back from a 4-0 deficit to beat the Colorado Avalanche 5-4 in overtime. It was one of the most impressive comebacks we have seen from the Desert Dogs this season and is another reason why this season’s team feels different.
The Coyotes had a decent start last, much better than their previous game against the Avalanche. They did a decent job preventing the Avalanche from taking control, and if not for a late power play goal from Mikko Rantanen, it likely would have been a tie game going into the second period.
But the Avalanche really came alive in period two. It took just 64 seconds for the Avalanche to double their lead, with Jonathan Drouin getting his fifth of the season. Then, Logan O’Connor scored just before the eight-minute mark, notching his fifth of the season.
After going down 3-0, the Coyotes decided to dig the hole a little deeper, with two penalties almost 30 seconds apart. Both Michael Carcone and Matt Dumba were sent to the box for tripping Cale Makar, and Nathan MacKinnon scored on the 5-on-3, giving the Avalanche their fourth of the night with just 26 and a half minutes left.
Thankfully, that goal seemed to wake the Coyotes up finally. Lawson Crouse notched his 15th of the season just three minutes later from Nick Bjugstad and Matias Maccelli, putting the Coyotes on the board.
It wasn’t a particularly special goal. Crouse worked his way into an open spot of ice and was in the perfect position to wrist a pass from Bjugstad past Alexander Georgiev to get the Yotes on the board. But, it gave the Coyotes something to build off going into the second intermission, and they would come ready to play.
The Coyotes would add to their lead just under four minutes into the third, with Michael Kesselring scoring his fourth of the season from Sean Durzi.
It was a great pass from Durzi to a wide-open Kesselring, who made the Avalanche pay for their defensive lapse. Suddenly, it was a very different game.
But if there was one thing the game needed, it was a redemption story. Jason Zucker had taken two penalties during the game, one of which saw Rantanen open up the scoring. He was so pissed at the call that the official asked if he wanted another one on a hot mic, so clearly it was frustrating for him. But he used that frustration for motivation and got the Coyotes within one just past the seven-minute mark.
It was an impressive goal from Zucker that saw Durzi and Logan Cooley record assists. Zucker won a board battle, brought the puck down low, and pulled off a wrap-around going post and in.
The Coyotes finally tied it late in the period, just after goaltender Karel Vejmelka was pulled. After recording two primary assists, it would be Sean Durzi tying things up with his sixth of the season from Maccelli and Crouse.
It was a simple shot through traffic from the blue line through traffic that would tie things up. The Coyotes took a chance with an early pull, and it worked out beautifully with a tie game.
The Coyotes were lucky to get a point but weren’t done yet. Arizona was on a roll in OT, and they got rewarded with a late goal from Jack McBain to win the game.
Zucker and Durzi brought the puck in on a 2-on-1 with seconds left when Zucker fired the puck at Georgiev. The puck bounced off Georgiev into the air, and a crashing McBain redirected the errant puck into the net to secure the win. After the officials confirmed that McBain didn’t palm the puck in, it was confirmed to be a good goal, and the Yotes completed the comeback.
It goes without saying that going down 4-0 in back-to-back games is far from ideal; it was great to see the Coyotes come back from it. The Avalanche are an outstanding team, so you have to expect them to go hard, but the Coyotes never gave up, and they earned their two points.
Lines
Three Stars
- Sean Durzi – Goal and three assists
- Nathan MacKinnon – Goal and an assist
- Lawson Crouse – Goal and an assist
Next Game
The Arizona Coyotes are back on the road and will face off against the Anaheim Ducks this Friday at 8:00 p.m.