Coyotes can’t withstand Hurricanes in 6-1 rout
With the trade deadline now in the past, the Arizona Coyotes trudged through a challenging game against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Since Wednesday, the Coyotes (2132-9) have lost five players to trades after going through another year as a seller at the deadline. The Coyotes fell in an early two-goal hole in the first period and couldn’t rally back, falling 6-1 on Friday at Mullett Arena.
The Coyotes went 0-for-3 and registered just four shots on the power play. The Hurricanes maximized its opportunities and scored three power play goals on four chances in the second and third periods.
Lawson Crouse scored the lone goal for the Coyotes in the second and secured his second consecutive 20-goal season.
“It’s been a busy week. We lost a lot of good friends,” Crouse said. “With that being said, there’s a lot of guys in here getting an opportunity to showcase themselves. As difficult as it is with the lineup situation, we got to put our best foot forward and try and compete every game or it’s going to be a long 20 games remaining here. We got to keep working and growing.”
Welcome to the NHL
Over the last 24 hours, the Coyotes saw forward Nick Ritchie and defenseman Troy Stecher dealt to the Calgary Flames. Defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok was inserted into the lineup Wednesday following the departures of Jakob Chychrun and Shayne Gostisbehere. Forwards Milos Kelemen and Jean-Sebastien Dea were recalled
Friday.
But it was defenseman Michael Kesselring who came in fresh off a whirlwind trip after being acquired Thursday in the Nick Bjugstad trade with Edmonton Oilers. Kesselring had played 49 games for the Oilers affiliate in Bakersfield when he received the news that he had been traded and would make his NHL debut.
“I was lucky my mom was up visiting me a day ago,” Kesselring said. “She was going to watch me in Bakersfield for the first time and then I got the call, so it was chaos but it was good to have her there to help me pack. The organization has been great so far and I couldn’t be happier to be a part of the organization.”
Kesselring had one hit and logged 16:04 minutes on the ice, including 1:18 on the penalty kill.
The ghosts of Coyotes past
After being dealt to the Hurricanes on Wednesday, Gostisbehere remained in Arizona before skating in his first game with the Hurricanes. Gostisbehere joins a group of three other former Coyotes players on the Hurricanes, including Jordan Martinook, Derek Stepan, and Antti Raanta.
Gostisbehere showed a familiar sight on the power play when he went to the net with a wrist shot that escaped Karel Vejmelka at 12:26 in the second.
“There’s been a lot over those years going to Carolina and seeing Ghost (Gostisbehere) on the other side tonight was a bit strange,” Crouse said. “He had a great game and it sucks losing a friend like him and a player and a defenseman like him, but we’re all excited for him. Hopefully, he can go on a lengthy playoff run and we’ll be cheering him on.”
Raanta started in net for the Hurricanes and made 17 saves.