Final Look: Coyotes Extend Pacific Point Streak in Vegas
Arizona now 6-0-3 in it past nine games against division opponents; shootout necessary for the third consecutive game
by Alex Kinkopf @AEKinkopf / Game Recap
COYOTES EXTEND PACIFIC POINT STREAK
Regulation hasn't been sufficient for the Coyotes of late, who extended to overtime and a shootout for the third consecutive game on Friday, falling 2-1 to the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena.
Despite the shootout loss, the Coyotes have now earned points in nine-straight games against Pacific Division opponents, which is the second-longest intra-division point streak in franchise history.
Thrice there have been 10-game streaks; the Jets in 1981-82 (9-0-0-1), and the 2011-12 and 2015-16 Coyotes (8-0-2).
The Coyotes (34) sit one point behind the Edmonton Oilers (35) for first place as they prepare to finish a seven-of-eight stretch against Pacific opponents tomorrow night at Gila River Arena when they host the San Jose Sharks.
Following a scoreless first period, the Golden Knights struck for the game's opening goal in the earlier stages of the middle frame to take a 1-0 lead with 12:59 remaining in the second.
With just over five minutes left in the second, Jakob Chychrun whistled past two Golden Knights defenders as he flew in from the neutral zone to score from a sharp angle below the left circle with a shot high to the short side, tying the game 1-1 with 5:07 to play in the frame.
Neither team scored in the third period, both clubs registering 10 shots in the final 20 minutes of regulation.
The Coyotes extended to their 10th overtime and sixth shootout of the season.
Christian Dvorak , replicating the move he used Wednesday against Anaheim, was the lone Arizona shooter to find the back of the net in the shootout, executing in the top of the third round.
The Golden Knights scored in the bottom of the first and third rounds to ultimately secure the 2-1 win.
With his primary assist on Chychrun's goal, Alex Goligoski is now second on the team in points with 16 (2G, 14A).
The Coyotes killed off four of Vegas' five power plays, and have now killed off 23 of their opponents' last 27 dating back to November 11
Darcy Kuemper made 37 saves.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
TRACKING IT
GAME #27: ARIZONA (1) at VEGAS (2) F/SO
- SOG: ARI - 36, VGK - 38
- PP: ARI - 0/1, VGK - 1/5
ARIZONA SCORING:
VEGAS SCORING:
- 1) Tuch PPG (Hague, Marchessault) - 7:01/2nd
- 2) Tuck (SOG) Game-Deciding Goal (Bottom, Third Round)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
THEY SAID IT
"Kuemps [Kuemper] held us in there when we needed him to and I think it could've gone either way. Anytime you can keep banking points against the Pacific - it would've been great to win this one, I thought we had a chance to win - but if we can keep banking points we're going to be in great shape."
Jason Demers , on recapping Friday's 2-1 SOL to Vegas
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
DON'T OVERLOOK IT
THE SITUATION: Coyotes trailing in the shootout, 1-0, in the bottom of the second round.
Darcy Kuemper made his fair share of clutch saves in the third period and overtime to keep the game tied, and he provided yet another extension of life in the shootout when he denied Shea Theodore with a quick glove hand in the second round of the shootout.
Staying center to the shooter, Kuemper read Theodore's move and cut off the puck's trajectory, keeping the Coyotes alive to advance to the third round.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
GOTTA SEE IT
THE SITUATION: Coyotes trailing, 1-0, with 5:07 remaining in the second period.
The Coyotes were in dire need of a momentum-swinging play late in the late stages of a period in which they were heavily outplayed, trailing the Golden Knights by a 1-0 score.
Jakob Chychrun provided that key play when he drove wide left, blowing past two Vegas defenders after receiving a pass from Alex Goligoski following a neutral zone faceoff win, beating - and surprising - Malcom Subban with a shot in stride high to the top corner.
"It was a great shot and I think it kind of turned everything for us," Jason Demers said. "It was what we needed, we needed a game-breaking play there and he gave it to us."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
PHOTO FINISH
The puck has eyes. Christian Dvorak's shot finds an opening between Malcolm Subban's right blocker and pad en route to the back of the net, a goal that would momentarily tie the shootout, 1-1, in the top of the third round in the Coyotes' eventual 2-1 shootout loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday at T-Mobile Arena. (Photo Credit: Jeff Bottari / Getty Images)
Lead Photo Credit: Jeff Bottari - Getty Images // GIF Highlight Footage: Fox Sports Arizona