Yotes Notes: Ritchie Shines, Guenther Debuts, & Ghost Playing Scary Well

Ghost had a scary-good opening week.

Just one week into the regular season, Arizona Coyotes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere picked up right where he left off last season, posting three points – including a dazzling shorthanded goal – in just two games last week. The 29-year-old blueliner continued his success from last year, where he notched 51 points in 82 games in the desert.

He wasn’t alone.

Nine different Coyotes found the scoresheet with either a goal or an assist in the team’s first two games, including newcomer Dylan Guenther, who appeared in his first-career NHL game on Saturday in Boston.

Nick Ritchie helped the Coyotes’ power play get off on the right foot (more on that below), and Clayton Keller potted his first of the season, as well.

On top of that, Arizona’s power play has come out of the gate hot, and is currently sixth-best in the league at 37.5 percent (3-for-8).

On to the show!

The Week That Was

Thursday, Oct. 13 | at Pittsburgh | 6-2 LossSTATS | THE WRAP

Ritchie was absolutely on fire against the Penguins, recording two power-play goals in the Coyotes’ season opener. Goalie Karel Vejmelka stopped 47 of the 53 shots he faced in the game, while Gostisbehere and J.J. Moser each recorded two assists each. 

Saturday, Oct. 15 | at Boston | 6-3 LossSTATS | THE WRAP

Guenther made his much-anticipated debut at TD Garden on Saturday, and immediately showed he was well within his element after tallying a secondary assist on Josh Brown’s goal early in the third period. Gostisbehere notched his first of the season – a shorthanded beauty – while forward Clayton Keller recorded his first goal of the season on the power play. 

Down on the Farm Tucson Roadrunners (1-1-0 8th place, Pacific Division)

Team Leaders

  The Sweet Spot

Oct: 15: Gostisbehere makes a perfect read, intercepts a pass while on the penalty kill, and then buries the breakaway opportunity past Bruins netminder Jeremy Swayman. 

Bear’s Necessities

“He can shut down opponents, he can win loose puck battles, he’s good on the forecheck, he’s good on the backcheck, and he’s good in the zone. He’s good offensively. He can pass, he can shoot, he can do a lot of stuff. I knew that about him, now it’s about, for him, he’s about to do it against NHL players.” – André Tourigny on 19-year-old Dylan Guenther making the roster out of training camp.

What to Watch For  Oct. 17 at Toronto, 4 pm MST

The Coyotes’ opening-season roadtrip continues in Toronto on Monday, as the 2-1-0 Maple Leafs will look for their third straight win after dropping their season-opening game against the Montreal Canadiens. Captain John Tavares leads the way with four points in three games, while forward William Nylander’s two goals are best on the team.

The Leafs were dealt a tough setback after losing starting goalie Matt Murray following the first game of the season, but Ilya Samsonov hasn’t missed a beat. In two games he’s posted a goals-against average of 2.00 and save percentage of .926.

TV: Bally Sports Arizona | Radio: ESPN 620 AM  

Oct. 20 at Montreal, 4 pm MST

The Canadiens, on the other hand, have dropped two straight since their opening-night stunner over Toronto, and have been outscored 6-1 in the process. Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki are tied at the top of the club with three points apiece, with Caufield’s two goals leading the way. First-overall draft pick Juraj Slafkovsky has been a little slow out of the gate, and is still looking for his first-career NHL point. He’s currently averaging 10:57 time on ice.

Between the pipes, Jake Allen has started two games to Sam Montembeault’s one, and also leads the way with a 2.03 GAA and .943 SV%. 

The Canadiens face the Penguins on Monday before hosting Arizona on Thursday.

TV: Bally Sports Arizona | Radio: ESPN 620 AM

Oct. 22 at Ottawa, 1 pm MST

As of the time of this writing, Ottawa is still searching for its first win of the season after dropping road contests to the Maple Leafs and the Buffalo Sabres. Claude Giroux leads the Sens with a goal and an assist in two games, while Shane Pinto and Brady Tkachuk each have one apiece.

Anton Forsberg has started both games for Ottawa, posting a 2.56 GAA and .924 SV% over that span.

The Senators still have games against the Bruins and the Washington Capitals before hosting the Coyotes on Saturday.

TV: Bally Sports Arizona | Radio: ESPN 620 AM 

In Case You Missed It

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