Coyotes edge Canucks in Throwback thriller: By the Numbers
Mar 6, 2015, 5:14 AM | Updated: 5:14 am
The Arizona Coyotes’ “Throwback Night” brought back memories of red and green, Kachina-style logos, and Alice Cooper.
It also brought back fond feelings of what it’s like to see the Coyotes win one.
Arizona fought their way to a 3-2 shootout victory over the Vancouver Canucks Thursday, and boy was it fun.
The ‘Yotes avoided an all-time franchise record losing streak, cutting off the casualties at 10 games.
It started with a fabulously vintage puck-drop between Jeremy Roenick, Sean Burke, and other former Coyotes:
ICYMI – Here's tonight's “Throwback Night” puck drop with @Jeremy_Roenick, @SBurkie1 and other former #Coyotes http://t.co/uv8yLXeDhX
— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) March 6, 2015
Oh, and this:
Werewolves of London is playing, Kachina's back and we're up 1-0 after 20.
— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) March 6, 2015
Tobias Rieder netted the first for Arizona with a minute left in the opening 20. Tye McGinn’s wrister in the third period put Arizona up 2-0 with plenty to play.
Vancouver’s Jannik Hansen backhanded one past goaltender Mike Smith with about seven minutes left in the match. Radim Vrbata tied it up with 53 seconds left and sent the game into overtime.
Arizona failed to capitalize on two straight shots in overtime after Vancouver giveaways — and missed on three breakaways in a row (two by Sam Gagner) to send the teams to a shootout.
Where Gagner missed in overtime, he struck in the shootout, slipping one past Vancouver’s Eddie Lack, and Smith stopped all three Canucks attempts in the Coyotes’ thrilling win.
What did “Throwback Night” look like, by the numbers?
32
Smith saved 32-of-34 attempts to help the Coyotes to victory, and his clutch shootout performance sealed it for his team.
7
Arizona peppered the goal in overtime with a season-high seven shots to Vancouver’s two.
19
Captain Shane Doan’s number looked especially sharp on his retro jersey — No. 19 has been with the Coyotes for 19 years.
19 years later one thing remains the same: 19
Thank you Captain! #ThrowbackInBlack pic.twitter.com/L6nzv5NvcS
— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) March 6, 2015
9
Arizona’s win is the team’s first on their home ice in nine games.
11
The Coyotes lost 11 out of 14 total games played in February, but are 1-1 thus far in March.
5/5
Arizona is 5-5 in shootouts this season.
