‘Yotes Notes: Coyotes allow late goal, fall to Ducks in shootout
Oct 19, 2013, 5:16 AM | Updated: 5:16 am
The Phoenix Coyotes appeared to be on their way to a hard-fought road win against the division-rival Anaheim Ducks, but Anaheim’s Nick Bonino scored with just 2:02 remaining in the third to tie the game at two, then the Ducks outscored the Coyotes in a shootout for a 3-2 win.
The Coyotes gave up a late lead for the second times in as many games to lose their second straight and fall to 4-2-2 on the season.
Anaheim (6-1-0) outscored Phoenix 4-3 in six shootout rounds, and won when Shane Doan’s wristshot from 14 feet was saved by Jonas Hiller to hand the Coyotes their first road loss of the season.
THE GOOD
The Coyotes dominated the faceoff battle 43-27, and until the game-tying goal, outplayed a good Anaheim team.
The Coyotes took advantage of a power play to take the lead — they scored just seconds after it ended — and the Phoenix penalty kill unit was successful on all four of its chances, including a four-minute double minor.
The Ducks outshot Phoenix 39-32, but a good amount of the Coyotes’ shots were quality looks at the net. Goalie Mike Smith had another quality game, stopping 37 Anaheim shots.
THE BAD
The Coyotes can’t afford to give points away late in games, and it’s something they’ve done in back-to-back contests.
Phoenix did everything it could do — and needed to do — to put itself in a position to win a division contest on the road. But that was erased on a somewhat-flukey play to tie the game.
Still, despite the luck factor that was involved in the Ducks tying the game, giving up leads late in games is something the Coyotes can’t get in the habit of doing.
And although they used a power play goal to take the lead in the third period, the Coyotes were just 1-of-6 with a man advantage. Taking advantage of more opportunities is something that will help Phoenix hang on to leads late.
NOTED
Coyotes defenseman Rusty Klesla got his first start of the season after missing the first three games of the season with a concussion, then suffering another big hit from the Senators’ Bobby Ryan on Tuesday.
WHAT’S NEXT
The Coyotes return to Glendale Saturday for a 6 p.m. game against the Detroit Red Wings in Jobing.com Arena.
