Hall expected to give Coyotes scoring boost

GLENDALE, ARIZ. » Taylor Hall wanted out of New Jersey. The Coyotes needed a scoring boost.

Arizona’s deal with the Devils turned out to be a perfect match for both.

Taylor got the change of scenery he wanted, to an upand-coming team in contention for a playoff spot, no less. The Coyotes got a topline scorer without having to give up much in return.

“To keep the group together, it was almost too good to be true, and we were very fortunate and opportunistic,” Coyotes general manager John Chayka said during Hall’s introductory news conference on Wednesday. With support from ownership, these things come together, and so far it’s been great.”

The Coyotes are off to one of their best starts in years behind two superb goalies and a steady defense. They still have struggled to score despite the addition of Phil Kessel, so instead of sitting back and trying to grind out wins, they went out and tried to find an immediate fix.

Hall has scored at least

20 goals in six of his nine NHL seasons and eclipsed

25 assists seven times. DEVILS 3, DUCKS 1 » Nico Hischier and Kyle Palmeiri scored second-period goals in their first game since linemate Taylor Hall was traded and New Jersey beat Anaheim Ducks 3-1 on Wednesday night.

Former player dies of workplace injuries

DULUTH, MINN. » The family of former NHL player Scot Kleinendorst says he has died of injuries suffered in a workplace accident in northern Minnesota.

Kleinendorst suffered severe brain trauma and numerous broken bones at a paper plant in Grand Rapids on Dec. 7. His daughter, Kelby Kleinendorst, wrote on a CaringBridge website that her father died Tuesday. He was 59.