ARIZONA COYOTES

Battle of the bottom tier ends in Buffalo’s favor over Coyotes: By the Numbers

Mar 31, 2015, 5:22 AM | Updated: 5:46 am

Follow @AZSports...

The Buffalo Sabres are the lowest-scoring team in the NHL, but they beat the Arizona Coyotes 4-1 Monday night after two empty-net goals in the final two minutes.

Mike Smith stopped 32 shots and Connor Murphy put one in for the Coyotes, but the Sabres broke a five-game losing streak in Glendale — and handed Arizona its eighth home loss in a row.

According to reports, it was a strange atmosphere. Some fans in attendance taped pictures of the opposing team’s logo over their own team sweaters, making it obvious they were rooting for “the tank” over the win.

It wasn’t much better in the first battle for last place according to the Associated Press, when the Coyotes played the Sabres last week:

“Sabres fans made it clear that their team has the best chance to draft Connor McDavid, considered one of the top prospects in years, booing when Buffalo scored, cheering when the Coyotes won in overtime.

The Sabres called it a low point in a difficult season, almost at a loss for words at their fans’ lack of support as the team tries to finish on some kind of positive note.”

Coyotes fans did not follow Buffalo’s lead.

What were the numbers?

1,390

The game was Coyotes captain Shane Doan’s 1,390th of his career.

1

Arizona is just one home loss away from tying a franchise home-losing-streak record set earlier this season.

31

Buffalo peppered Smith in the first two periods with 31 combined shots on goal to Arizona’s 18.

The Sabres would ultimately outshoot the Coyotes 36-29.

5-4

Perhaps the most frustrating part of the night for the Coyotes were the two goals scored in the final minutes despite Arizona’s 5-4 power play advantage.

5

This is the fifth straight victory in Glendale, Ariz. for the Sabres.

Arizona Coyotes

Arizona Coyotes right wing Clayton Keller...

Associated Press

Clayton Keller becomes 2nd Coyotes player with 400 points in win over Devils

Karel Vejmelka stopped 37 shots and the Arizona Coyotes beat the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.

2 days ago

Arizona Coyotes center Logan Cooley, right, is greeted by defenseman Travis Dermott (33) after scor...

Associated Press

Arizona Coyotes beat struggling Detroit Red Wings again

Logan Cooley had a short-handed goal in the first period, Michael Carcone broke a tie in the second and the Coyotes beat the Red Wings 4-1.

4 days ago

Arizona Coyotes CEO and president Xavier Gutierrez...

Associated Press

Arizona Coyotes cleared to bid on north Phoenix land for new arena

The Arizona Coyotes have the green light to bid on a tract of land in north Phoenix in their yearslong bid to build a new arena.

4 days ago

Arizona Coyotes defenseman Josh Brown, left, and Minnesota Wild center Marco Rossi (23) compete for...

Associated Press

Penalty kill falters again, Coyotes lose to the Minnesota Wild

Nick Bjugstad had another goal against his hometown team but the Coyotes penalty kill couldn't contain the Minnesota Wild in a road loss.

6 days ago

Arizona Coyotes right wing Clayton Keller...

Associated Press

Coyotes’ Clayton Keller scores twice in loss to Blackhawks, Colin Blackwell delivers hat trick

Colin Blackwell got his first hat trick and Connor Bedard had two goals, leading the Blackhawks to a victory over the Coyotes.

8 days ago

Dylan Guenther #11 of the Arizona Coyotes warms up before the NHL game against the Boston Bruins at...

David Veenstra

Arizona Coyotes’ Dylan Guenther has water turned off after he doesn’t pay utility bill

Arizona Coyotes' Dylan Guenther and teammate Jack McBain had their water turned off this week after they did not pay their utility bill.

9 days ago

Battle of the bottom tier ends in Buffalo’s favor over Coyotes: By the Numbers