Game Recap
The Arizona Coyotes dropped the final game of their road trip, falling 2-1 to the Vancouver Canucks. It was always going to be a tough matchup, but still a frustrating one to watch.
It didn’t take long for the Canucks to take control of the first period. The Canucks got an early power play after Liam O’Brien was called for roughing, and while Vancouver didn’t score, they quickly took control of the game.
After dominating most of the first, Vancouver finally converted on their second power play. This time it was Sean Durzi in the box for interference when Elias Pettersson fired a shot from the point off a faceoff win giving the Canucks a 1-0 lead.
Thankfully, the Coyotes had an excellent response and tied it before the period expired. Travis Dermott got the goal with his first of the season.
Dermott found an open spot on the ice and fired a pass from Alex Kerfoot late in the opening period. After sleepwalking most of the period, watching the Coyotes respond and tie it up before the break was great.
That goal seemed to wake the Coyotes up, and they were the better team for much of the second period. Two near back-to-back Tyler Myers penalties definitely helped with that.
Unfortunately, the Coyotes could not break the tie despite the momentum, with Thatcher Demko making some big saves.
As the middle frame started winding down, the Canucks started to regain control. Penalties from Travis Dermott and Michael Carcone certainly didn’t help. But with 58 seconds left in the period, Dakota Joshua broke the tie, giving the Canucks a 2-1 lead.
That goal would prove to be the eventual game-winner. The Coyotes would give the Canucks another power play midway through the third, but otherwise, it was a pretty even period. The Coyotes couldn’t defeat Demko and ran out of time to tie it.
On the one hand, playing a close game against one of the top teams is a good thing. The Coyotes were getting blown out at the start of the month, and a 2-1 loss is undoubtedly an improvement. But the Coyotes are back to their undisciplined, heavily penalized ways, and it is clearly not working for them.
Lines
Three Stars
- Dakota Joshua – Game-winning goal
- Thatcher Demko – 20 saves on 21 shots
- Connor Ingram – 24 saves on 26 shots
Next Game
The Coyotes will return to Arizona to play the Nashville Predators at 1:00 p.m. Arizona time.