Arizona Coyotes fall to Rangers, lose sixth straight home game: By the Numbers
Feb 15, 2015, 3:20 AM | Updated: 3:34 am
The Arizona Coyotes didn’t commit a single penalty Saturday night, but they managed to give up a special-teams goal anyway.
Yep, it was that kind of night for the Coyotes, who fell 5-1 to the New York Rangers at Gila River Arena for their third consecutive defeat and their sixth straight home loss.
Trailing 2-1 in the third period, the Coyotes (20-30-7, 47 points) had an opportunity to tie with a power-play goal. Instead, a turnover led to a shorthanded goal by Kevin Hayes to double the Rangers’ advantage. Marc Staal added another New York goal just 2:22 later, and former Coyote Lee Stempniak capped the scoring with 2:13 to play.
Antoine Vermette scored for the second time in four games for the Coyotes’ loan goal. Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Lucas Lessio assisted on the goal, which tied the game at 1-1 6:33 into the second period.
Rick Nash’s goal just 1:19 into the third period was the game-winner for New York (33-16-5, 71 points). Toby Rieder had a chance to pull the ‘Yotes even on a penalty shot just over six minutes into the third, but his five-hole attempt was saved by Cam Talbot.
Here’s a closer look at how the Coyotes fell Saturday night, by the numbers:
0
It didn’t help guide them to a victory, but the Coyotes had their first penalty-free game of the 2014-15 season.
3
Vermette’s goal was just his third in his last 21 games. He scored 10 goals in the Coyotes’ first 35 games of the season.
4
Ekman Larsson notched his third assist in the Coyotes’ last four games. He assisted on both of Arizona’s goals in regulation in a 3-2 shootout win over the Blackhawks on Monday.
7
The Coyotes have lost at least three consecutive games for the seventh time this season.
8
After yielding just seven goals in his first five games of February, Coyotes goalie Mike Smith has allowed eight goals in his last two games. He surrendered three goals on 28 shots in Friday’s 4-2 home loss to the San Jose Sharks.
500
Rangers coach Alain Vigneault earned his 500th career NHL win Saturday.
