Coyotes lose heartbreaker to Oilers in shootout: By The Numbers
Apr 5, 2014, 5:35 AM | Updated: 6:55 am
Friday night at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale gave yet another opportunity to casual Phoenix Coyotes fans to get a snapshot of their season.
Indeed, the game played out as something of a microcosm of Phoenix’s season, as it was the same old, same old for coach Dave Tippett’s squad, who again found a devastating way to lose a game.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Kyle Chipchura did their best to avoid the seeming inevitable, but it wouldn’t be enough, as the team lost its lead with less than a minute to go in regulation.
And, despite a fine performance by goaltender Thomas Greiss in the shootout, the Coyotes coughed that up, too, losing 3-2.
Here’s a closer look at the loss, by the numbers:
0
The Coyotes couldn’t find the net whatsoever in the shootout, missing all four of their attempts, which were had by Mikkel Boedker, Radim Vrbata, Antone Vermette and Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
2
The Coyotes served just two minutes of penalty time on Friday, coming on a Keith Yandle high stick.
3
Kyle Chipchura’s goal in the third period was his third goal in the Coyotes last eight games and just his fifth on the season. He looks to be the only Phoenix skater who is heating up at the right time.
26
Both the Coyotes and Oilers put 26 shots on goal Friday. Both goaltenders made 24 saves. But it was Edmonton net-minder Ben Scrivens who came away with two points, thanks to his stellar shootout performance.
44.1
Goaltender pulled, time-kill mode by the Coyotes in full swing, the Oilers managed to tie up the game, 2-2, and Sam Gagner’s goal, which exploited a misplay by Greiss.
86
The Coyotes’ 86 points are good enough for the second wild card in the Western Conference playoff race, just one point ahead of the Dallas Stars, who have two more games left than Phoenix, who has now lost four games in a row, despite grabbing a point in the shootout loss.
89
Oilers No. 89, center Sam Gagner, scored both the game-tying and game-winning goal for his team, going into clutch mode to find the net with 44.1 seconds left and then as the fourth and final shooter for Edmonton in the shootout.
139
Ekman-Larsson’s second-period goal was the Coyotes’ first goal in over 139 minutes of ice time.
