VIDEO: Ducks Beat Coyotes 3-1

Photo: AP

By Richard Gonzalez

The Anaheim Ducks took on the Arizona Coyotes. The Ducks have played the Coyotes three times this season, winning one and dropping two. The Coyotes had a six-game winning streak and the Ducks are coming off a 2-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche. Darcy Kuemper will start for the Coyotes and Ryan Miller for the Ducks. Ryan Kesler will skate in his 1,000th game tonight. 

First Period:

The Coyotes would get the game’s first and second penalties with one being a too many men on the ice (00:35) served by Conor Garland and a boarding call (7:34) going to Josh Archibald. The Ducks would not convert on that power plays and gave up an odd-man rush which almost resulted in a goal but it went off the post. The Ducks would strike first at the 3:52 mark when Jakob Silfverberg tipped in a shot from Josh Manson. Hampus Lindholm would get the secondary assist. The Ducks would take back-to-back penalties when Kesler sat for a cross-check (11:56) and Manson for a delay of game (12:02). Miller played lights out to kill that penalty stopping some great chances. The Coyotes would tie the game at the 18:32 mark when Lawson Crouse received a pass in the slot from Archibald and buried the puck past Miller. Kevin Connauton got the secondary assist. The Ducks outshot the Coyotes 12-7 and outhit them 12-9. 

Second Period:

The period had a slower start than the first. Both teams exchanged shots that were easily blocked by the goalies. Alex Galchenyuk would take an interference at the 6:58 mark. The Ducks wouldn’t convert for the third time tonight. Shortly after the penalty ended, the Ducks would take a too many men on the ice penalty. Sam Steel and Silfverberg had a couple of good chances to score a shorthanded goal by Steel couldn’t get a good pass to him. The Ducks would end the period with Steel taking a hooking penalty at the 19:49 mark. Brendan Guhle was hurt during the second and did not return. Both teams tied 1-1 after the second period. Shots were 8-8 and hits were even at 18-18.

Third Period: 

The third period started without Guhle. The Ducks said he is most likely not returning to the game after suffering an upper-body injury. The Ducks had a little more jump to their game to start this period. Adam Henrique scored the game’s first power play goal after Crouse was called for tripping at the 2:36 mark. Mario Kempe would take the period’s second penalty free he was called for slashing. The Ducks controlled all but five seconds of the power play which ultimately lead to Troy Terry scoring a goal. Henrique would then get a called for tripping but the Ducks would kill that off. Rickard Rakell thought he had a goal but it was determined to be offside. The Ducks outshot the Coyotes 10-8 and won the game 3-1. 

Analysis: 

The Ducks started off strong. They kept the Coyotes off the board and controlled the tempo of the game. They were able to get on the board first but lost the lead in the finishing minutes of the period. The Ducks would resort back to their typical second period problems and played flat. They were not moving their feet or getting open.  Miller came up big on the five-on-three penalty making bigs saves and the Ducks PK was a big factor in this game. The Ducks power play also started heating up scoring two consecutive goals on the last power plays they had. The Ducks look to bring this momentum to the game against the St. Louis Blues. 

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March 5th, 2019