Scott Wedgewood stops 27 in loss
Friday night’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks, on paper, was a chance for the Coyotes to perhaps pick up their first road win of the season.
It’s been well-documented what the Blackhawks have gone through off the ice, and their on-ice performance has suffered as well. Only the Coyotes (112-1) have a worse record in the Central Division.
The game was close throughout, but Dylan Strome struck against his old team in the third period for what proved to be the winning goal in Chicago’s 2-1 win at the United Center. His power play shot from in front got past Coyotes goalie Scott Wedgewood at 9:26 of the period, and the Coyotes couldn’t find a tying goal the rest of the way on their way to another defeat.
It ruined another strong performance from Wedgewood, who was claimed off waivers earlier this month.
“He was rock solid,” Coyotes head coach André Tourigny said of Wedgewood. “He does look confident. He moves very well. He looks like he has fun out there.”
Andrew Ladd had opened the third period with the tying goal, with the Coyotes on a power play. A double-minor against Strome for high-sticking gave Arizona the power play to start the final 20 minutes, and the Coyotes were able to cash in when Chicago goalie Marc-Andre Fleury was screened from the puck by his own teammates.
Until then, Alex DeBrincat’s first-period goal off a brilliant backhand pass from Patrick Kane was the game’s only tally, and the Blackhawks had more chances, at least five on breakaways that were all missed or stopped. Wedgewood, in his first start of the season, withstood almost all of them, ending a good performance with 27 saves.
Ladd’s goal was his second in as many games. Kyle Capobianco and Lawson Crouse got assists, the first career assist for Capobianco and his first point of the season, in his first game of the season after starting it on injured reserve.
Capobianco also delivered a crushing but legal hit on Chicago’s Kirby Dach. Forward Alex Galchenyuk made his season debut for the Coyotes, after another lengthy injury recovery.
“I didn’t know that I got him that high. I thought I got him with my shoulder,” Capobianco said. “I didn’t know that he was bleeding until after. I hope nothing happened to him.”
The Coyotes had a power play and pulled Wedgewood in the final 90 seconds of the game, but despite a twoman advantage could not force overtime.
“From top to bottom all our guys battled hard, our skill guys down to our depth guys really put in the effort,” Capobianco said. “I think it just built energy throughout our entire team.”
‘Bear’ track
Tourigny challenged DeBrincat’s goal, hoping for it to be overturned on a missed call for a stoppage in play just before it happened. Wedgewood argued for a call and play was stopped.
But the Coyotes lost the challenge and they were given a penalty for delay of game after the goal. Here was the explanation from the NHL:
Gally’s return
Galchenyuk, in his second go-around as a Coyote, worked hard to make the NHL roster out of training camp after being brought in on a pro tryout contract.
He wished it would have come in a win, but with the Coyotes playing a back-to-back, he’s looking forward to getting into Saturday’s game at Nashville and feeling even better.
“In a tight game like that, wish I could have done more,” Galchenyuk said. “Now I’m in the lineup, and that’s where you come in and you can help the team.”