Coyotes top Blue Jackets, extend point streak to 9
Although fatigued, the Arizona Coyotes didn’t let it define the game and gutted out another win in overtime and extended its point streak to nine games on Sunday.
Overtime has become a recurring theme for the Coyotes, with the team reaching overtime in six of the last eight games. Barrett Hayton’s goal on a two-on-one dish with Matias Maccelli two minutes into the period gave the Coyotes the 3-2 victory.
The Coyotes held a two-goal lead over the Blue Jackets that faded away in the third period when Patrik Laine scored at 15:07 on the power play. Neither team found an answer in regulation and the Coyotes were guaranteed to extend the streak.
In Saturday’s game, the Coyotes went into a shootout in Los Angeles in a game that already had a later start time.
“Today as a team we felt tired,” Coyotes head coach Andre Tourigny said. “We arrived really late and players told me that’s the most tired they’ve ever felt maybe in a season. That’s good for us that we found a way to find two points.”
A deceptive play
Known for his pass-first style, Maccelli’s play has benefited those around him throughout this season.
In the last two games, he’s made key plays and set up two much-needed goals.
On Saturday, he set up Clayton Keller on a 5-on-3 opportunity that began the four-goal comeback.
On Sunday, he drove to the net then sauced over a pass to Hayton for the game-winner.
“He’s so deceptive with the puck,” Hayton said. “He’s able to freeze guys and find lanes. He’s so good at that. He doesn’t shoot a ton, but he’s got a really good shot, it’s sneaky.”
Maccelli leads all NHL rookies in assists (25) and is second in points per game (0.72) with games played.
Striking while hot
There wasn’t much hesitation for Tourigny in going with Connor Ingram in net again after he relieved Karel Vejmelka the night before, playing for over 48 minutes.
“It would have been cheap for us to say, OK, you did really good yesterday and for that reason, you’re not playing today,” Tourigny said.
While likely weary from 23 saves in the 6-5 shootout loss, the Blue Jackets didn’t pepper Ingram with many chances early on. Ingram faced 85 straight shots before he allowed a shot from Boone Jenner at 13:23 in the second period.
Ingram’s streak of 147:08 minutes without surrendering a goal is the fifthlongest shutout sequence a goalie has produced in the NHL this season.
Plus and minus
a minimum
As the team went on its current run, Shayne Gostisbehere was watching while rehabbing an upper body injury. The injury that sidelined him for eight games was initially supposed to keep him out longer, but his recovery process sped up as he showed progression.
“You see it differently when you’re not playing and the boys are trying really hard every night and it’s definitely noticeable," Gostisbehere said. "When you come in, you just want to hop on and get on the train.”
In his return, Gostisbehere lead the team in shots with five and slowly worked back into the power play.
“I see rust a little bit,” Tourigny said. “I was joking with him a little bit. What I liked is that he adjusted his game in the third period. In the beginning, he was trying to do things he’s used to doing. The puck was bouncing in his lane and he was not executing at the high level he was used to. He’s a smart guy and in the third he did a really good job at a moment when we needed it.”
Zack Kassian was scratched from the lineup, leaving 11 forwards available.