The Wrap: ‘Relentless’ Coyotes Rally for Third Straight Win

STATS

Something about playing the Toronto Maple Leafs brings out the best in the Arizona Coyotes.

Of course, that’s been the case against almost every team they’ve played at Mullett Arena lately.

Jack McBain scored twice, Barrett Hayton added a goal and two assists, and Karel Vejmelka made 29 saves as the Coyotes used four third-period goals to rally past the Maple Leafs 6-3 at Mullett Arena on Thursday. Arizona, which will now play four consecutive games on the road, closed its current homestand a perfect 3-0.

The Coyotes (13-16-5) not only swept the season series — they have won four straight against the Maple Leafs (22-8-6). Arizona is now 18-4-2 versus Toronto dating back to Jan. 14, 2006.

Nick Bjugstad, Jakob Chychrun, and J.J. Moser also scored for the Coyotes, who are 7-3-2 at home. 

“This team is relentless,” Bjugstad said. “We find a way to be in it. Now we’re finding ways to win, which is nice. Especially at home.”

Pontus Holmberg, Calle Jarnkrok, and Alexander Kerfoot scored for Toronto, which had previously won three straight games. Matt Murray stopped 17 of the 21 shots he faced on Thursday.

Bjugstad opened the scoring just 46 seconds into the game with a backhanded goal after poking the puck free at the blue line and skating past the defense to create a partial breakaway. 

Toronto took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission, though, behind two power-play goals from Holmberg and Jarnkrok. 

“They’re a very high skilled team,” McBain said. “If you give them chances on the power play, it’s tough to fend those off.”

Chychrun tied the game with a power-play goal of his own in the second, firing in a rebound after Murray made an initial stop on Nick Ritchie. The 24-year-old defenseman now has four goals and 13 assists in 18 games played this season.

Kerfoot restored Toronto’s lead at 11:19 of the middle frame, but Moser tied it up 4:40 into the third, cashing in with yet another power-play goal.

That set up McBain’s game-winner, converting a 2-on-1 rush with Lawson Crouse with 7:17 remaining in the game. 

The goal sent the home crowd into an absolute frenzy.

“The Mullett, it’s a great atmosphere,” McBain said. “It’s fun to play in, the fans are great, and we like being here.”

The 22-year-old forward is in his first full NHL season and had a little added motivation considering his former college team, Boston College, was in attendance on Thursday. They’re playing Arizona State on Friday and Saturday.

Coyotes head coach André Tourigny has praised McBain’s work ethic all season, and it paid off in the form of two goals on Thursday.

“He played with a lot of passion,” Tourigny said. “He was physical. He was very fast. He won a lot of battles. He was one of our best players tonight.”

McBain added an empty-netter at 17:38 before Hayton rounded out the scoring with another, cementing Arizona’s perfect homestand.

“We’re a hard team to play against, and teams don’t like coming into The Mullett,” Bjugstad said. “It’s a different rink to play in for a lot of people, and we try to use it to our advantage. We’re having some fun with it.”

Tourigny agreed.

“We feel at home,” he said. “That’s for sure.”

The Coyotes play next in Tampa Bay on Saturday, and the game will be televised on Bally Sports Arizona (TV) and Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (Radio). Puck drop is scheduled for 3 pm MST.