ARIZONA COYOTES

Raanta’s first shutout as a Coyote leads team to 4th straight win

Feb 17, 2018, 6:36 PM | Updated: Feb 18, 2018, 12:36 pm

Arizona Coyotes goaltender Antti Raanta (32) and defenseman Alex Goligoski (33) slide over to prote...

Arizona Coyotes goaltender Antti Raanta (32) and defenseman Alex Goligoski (33) slide over to protect the goal against a shot from Edmonton Oilers center Ryan Strome (18) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. The Coyotes defeated the Oilers 1-0. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Antti Raanta came within 1:12 of posting his first shutout as a Coyote in his first game with Arizona on Oct. 7 against the Vegas Golden Knights.

He had to wait 34 more appearances to close the deal.

Raanta stopped all 40 shots he faced and Christian Dvorak scored early in the first period to lead Coyotes to a 1-0 win against the Edmonton Oilers at Gila River Arena on Saturday afternoon.

“It’s always special,” Raanta said of his ninth career shutout. “When the team is playing like that, when you only need to make the first save and the guys are making sure that there are no rebounds it makes your life a little easier. You never get the shutouts by yourself.”

The Coyotes (17-32-10), have won four straight games, their longest winning streak of the season. Arizona is 5-0-1 in past six games and 8-5-5 since Jan. 4. This is the first four-game winning streak for the Coyotes since Jan. 4-12, 2016.

Raanta is 7-3-4 in his past 15 games (14 starts). He has stopped 430 of 459 shots in those games for a .937 save percentage.

“He’s really kind of dug in here the last six weeks,” coach Rick Tocchet said. “Any team in this league, you have to have good goaltending to win. That’s No. 1.”

Dvorak gave the Coyotes a 1-0 lead at 3:26 of the first period when Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s shot from the left point banked off goalie Cam Talbot, struck Dvorak and bounced into the net. The goal came on Arizona’s first shot. Edmonton has allowed a goal on the first shot of the game 11 times this season.

It was Dvorak’s 10th goal. He is the fourth player in Coyotes history (Peter Mueller, Tobias Rieder, Brendan Perlini) to begin his career with back-to-back double-digit goal seasons.

“I didn’t even know that,” Dvorak said. “I don’t really think about personal achievements.

“I think I’ve been better as the season has gone on here. I’m trying to produce a little more offensively and help the team win.”

Talbot thought Dvorak interfered with him.

“I just don’t understand it,” Talbot said. “There’s just no consistency and I’m [expletive] sick of it.”

Patrick Maroon thought he had tied the game at 11:08 of the third period when Oscar Klembom’s shot banked off his head and into the net. However, Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet challenged the goal for goaltender interference and the call on the ice was overturned.

“I felt that I couldn’t move couldn’t move my right arm,” Raanta said. “He kind of took my stick and blocker hand away. It was a high shot so you just want to put it to the corner with your blocker and I couldn’t do it.”

Among goalies who have played at least 30 games this season, Raanta is tied for fourth in the NHL with a .923 save percentage. Now healthy, Raanta said this is the best he has felt all year.

“Yeah, probably overall, how I’m moving, how I’m tracking the puck and kind of being patient,” Raanta said. “When you get a couple wins and confidence is getting higher, that’s usually when the game feels a little bit simpler and maybe a little bit more slowed down.”

Arizona Coyotes

Arizona Coyotes right wing Clayton Keller...

Associated Press

Clayton Keller becomes 2nd Coyotes player with 400 points in win over Devils

Karel Vejmelka stopped 37 shots and the Arizona Coyotes beat the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.

2 days ago

Arizona Coyotes center Logan Cooley, right, is greeted by defenseman Travis Dermott (33) after scor...

Associated Press

Arizona Coyotes beat struggling Detroit Red Wings again

Logan Cooley had a short-handed goal in the first period, Michael Carcone broke a tie in the second and the Coyotes beat the Red Wings 4-1.

4 days ago

Arizona Coyotes CEO and president Xavier Gutierrez...

Associated Press

Arizona Coyotes cleared to bid on north Phoenix land for new arena

The Arizona Coyotes have the green light to bid on a tract of land in north Phoenix in their yearslong bid to build a new arena.

4 days ago

Arizona Coyotes defenseman Josh Brown, left, and Minnesota Wild center Marco Rossi (23) compete for...

Associated Press

Penalty kill falters again, Coyotes lose to the Minnesota Wild

Nick Bjugstad had another goal against his hometown team but the Coyotes penalty kill couldn't contain the Minnesota Wild in a road loss.

6 days ago

Arizona Coyotes right wing Clayton Keller...

Associated Press

Coyotes’ Clayton Keller scores twice in loss to Blackhawks, Colin Blackwell delivers hat trick

Colin Blackwell got his first hat trick and Connor Bedard had two goals, leading the Blackhawks to a victory over the Coyotes.

8 days ago

Dylan Guenther #11 of the Arizona Coyotes warms up before the NHL game against the Boston Bruins at...

David Veenstra

Arizona Coyotes’ Dylan Guenther has water turned off after he doesn’t pay utility bill

Arizona Coyotes' Dylan Guenther and teammate Jack McBain had their water turned off this week after they did not pay their utility bill.

9 days ago

Raanta’s first shutout as a Coyote leads team to 4th straight win