NY’s 2 late power-play goals sink Arizona
Keller’s goal had given Coyotes 2-1 lead in 3rd
The COVID-19 cases that have disrupted schedules for other NHL teams have not reached the Arizona Coyotes. At least as of Wednesday night.
The injury bug, however, is another story. The Coyotes lost their third forward and fourth player in the past three games when Christian Fischer went down with an upper body injury in the first period of the Coyotes’ game against the New York Rangers Wednesday at Gila River Arena.
The Coyotes do have a healthy scoring forward in Clayton Keller, and he tallied a goal and assist to give him a team-leading seven goals and 19 points this season. But they couldn’t hold the one-goal lead Keller gave them in the third period, and lost their sixth consecutive game, 3-2.
“The biggest thing I’ve figured out is when I’m skating, that’s when I’m at my best, and I’m not just looking to pass all the time,” Keller said. “I’m using my feet first and then everything else takes care of itself. That’s something I’m going to continue to do.”
The Rangers tied the score at 2 on a Mika Zibanejad power play goal, and Kaapo Kakko gave the Rangers the win with 2:18 to play with another power play goal after the Coyotes were called for too many men on the ice.
“Stuff happens. That was key moments. Give them credit, their best player made a difference in those situations,” Coyotes head coach André Tourigny said. “At the same time, it’s frustrating on our side because it’s three games in a row we have more scoring chances than our opponent, and we cannot find a way to get a point in those three games. It’s tough a little bit right now. Tomorrow the sun will come up, but for tonight we’re not in the best place mentally. We’re not where we want to be.”
Fischer appeared to take a hit from the Rangers’ Kevin Rooney, and skated slowly off the ice doubled over in pain. He was attended to by a trainer then left the bench area and did not return to the game.
Tourigny had no update on Fischer’s status going forward after the game.
Fischer joined forwards Ryan Dzingel and Jay Beagle currently with injuries, and defenseman Jakob Chychrun also did not play after being placed on injured reserve with an upper body injury.
With injuries at the center position, Tourigny had to use wingers Andrew Ladd, Liam O’Brien and Keller at center at times. Johan Larsson is expected back for the team’s next game but wasn’t ready Wednesday to come off the injured list.
“Even the ones we have right now, they have some bruises and bumps,” Tourigny said, referring to centers Travis Boyd, Barrett Hayton and Alex Galchenyuk. Boyd was hurt in practice Tuesday but played through it.
Loui Eriksson also scored for Arizona. His attempt to stuff the puck into one corner of the net stopped just short of crossing the goal line in the first period. Or so it was ruled on a very brief replay review.
Later in the first, Hayton was taken down on a breakaway on which no penalty shot was given. Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren was called for slashing on the play.
Before the period ended, Eriksson got his elusive goal, His shot was slowed once again by Rangers goalie Keith Kinkaid, but had enough velocity to get through and past the line.
Radio Los Yotes en español
The Coyotes will, for the first time in franchise history, broadcast games on Spanish language radio with a game of the week starting Dec. 23. It’s a partnership with Univision Arizona in which select games, 14 in all, will air on KHOV 105.1 FM over the course of the remainder of the season. Current Arizona Cardinals Spanish radio play-by-play announcer Luis Hernandez will call the action. He’s been watching recent Coyotes home games in person taking notes and preparing for his new role.
“We are very excited about our new partnership with Univision Arizona,” Coyotes President & CEO Xavier A. Gutierrez said in a statement. “To expand our rabid fans base, we need to attract Latinos to our great sport and expose hockey to new communities. We also need to super-serve our Latino fans and fans in waiting. Our Spanish Radio Game of the Week broadcast with Univision Arizona will help us engage with the Valley’s Hispanic market in an authentic way and promote growth, diversity and inclusion.”
After the Dec. 23 game against Tampa Bay, Hernandez will call three games in January, two in February, four in March and four in April.
Moser’s debut
Defenseman Janis Moser played almost 19 minutes in his NHL debut, and Tourigny was pleased with what he saw from the 21-year-old who was drafted less than five months ago.
“It’s obviously a dream come true. I think when you start hockey at five years old, you dream about that one moment when you play your first NHL game,” Moser said. “And then the special thing was more in advance, so before the game you think about how it’s going to be ... and then game once it starts, it’s a hockey game and you don’t have time to think about all of the things that are going on.”
‘Bear’ track
The Coyotes have lost eight of their last nine games, but Tourigny said the team played well in 5-on-5 against New York.