Game Recap
After returning home from a four-game road trip to start the season, the Arizona Coyotes have a winning record. The Coyotes beat the Anaheim Ducks 2-1 in their first game at Mullett Arena and walked away with a 3-2-0 record.
Once again, the Coyotes’ power play proved to be the difference maker. After a tight start where the Ducks had a slight edge, the Coyotes got their first power play late in the period. They couldn’t do much on that first power play, but they finished strong, which set up their second power play.
Leo Carlsson was in the box for interference, and after some good puck movement, Juuso Välimäki found an open Jason Zucker on top of the circle. Zucker fired the puck past Lukas Dostal to give the Coyotes a 1-0 lead. Matias Maccelli also assisted on the goal.
The penalties would continue, and it wouldn’t just be the Ducks. Michael Carcone took a late slashing call to end the opening period, and penalties would be a big part of the final two periods.
Jason Zucker and Adam Henrique would get matching roughing calls to start the second period, and there would be five more penalties throughout the period.
Arizona would build off the momentum, but they would get their second goal 5-on-5. It was Keller lighting the lamp for his third of the season, with Nick Schmaltz and Sean Durzi assisting.
Arizona did a good enough job locking things down, although it wasn’t perfect. An early Lawson Crouse roughing penalty would see Frank Vatrano score the Ducks’ lone goal on the power play, his fourth of the season.
The game had gotten chirpier as it went along, with six roughing calls and one fight. The Coyotes did an okay job of not getting sucked in by the Ducks into taking a stupid penalty while making sure the Ducks didn’t think they had free reign on the ice.
It was the same with the Coyotes’ power play, good but not great. Zucker’s power play goal was crucial for the win, but the Coyotes were one for five with the man advantage, including nearly four straight minutes between the end of the second and the start of the third.
It was a great effort by the Desert Dogs, who put on a show for their first home game. The Coyotes never trailed during the game and finished strong in a way we didn’t see last season. It was a tight win but a good one.
Lines
Three Stars
- Karel Vejmelka – 32 saves on 33 shots
- Jason Zucker – Goal
- Clayton Keller – Goal
Next Game
The Coyotes are back on the road for a trip to Los Angeles on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.