The Phoenix Coyotes might have precious few atmospheres like they one they had Saturday night at Jobing.com Arena throughout the season, but they made this one a night to remember.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, a 20-year-old defenseman from Sweden, scored a pair of goals to lead the Coyotes to a 4-1 win over the reincarnated WInnipeg Jets before 17,132 fans.
Phoenix (2-1-1) also got a goal and assist from Ray Whitney and two assists from Shane Doan, who didn't get his 300th career goal but still played a major role.
Center Daymond Langkow opened the scoring 34 seconds into the game, and the Coyotes never trailed thereafter. Ekman-Larsson made it 2-0 before the first period was over and 3-0 with his second-period goal before Andrew Ladd scored for the Jets.
The Coyotes converted on only one power play, but Whitney's goal made it 4-1. He took a pass from behind the net from Martin Hanzal and scored with 13:17 to play in the game.
Goaltender Mike Smith stopped 18 of 19 shots, including a penalty shot from Jets center Nik Antropov halfway through the final period. Smith got his first win in goal of the season for Phoenix.
Smith took a knock from the Jets' Evander Kane with 9:04 left and was down on the ice for a little bit, but got up and finished the game.
Andrew Ladd scored the winless Jets' only goal of the game, giving those in the crowd rooting for Winnipeg -- and there were more than a few -- something to be happy about. The Jets are back in the NHL after a 15-year absence after the original Jets relocated to Arizona and became the Coyotes in 1996.
0 comments
Coyotes vs. Winnipeg Jets: Ekman-Larsson Leads Phoenix To Home Win
Oct 15
Comments