ARIZONA COYOTES

Arizona Coyotes execute rare goaltender, skater double save

Jan 16, 2019, 10:06 PM

Arizona Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) makes a save on a shot from San Jose Sharks left wing...

Arizona Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) makes a save on a shot from San Jose Sharks left wing Evander Kane (9) as Coyotes defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin, right, arrives to help during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

The double save in hockey is one of the sport’s greatest moments of pure skill when a goaltender stops not only one premium scoring chance but another right after.

As far as a double save involving two different players, though, we haven’t seen that too many times.

The rare event occurred in the second period of the Arizona Coyotes’ matchup with the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday night.

With the Coyotes up 4-2 in the second period, San Jose had the puck logged in Arizona’s end in the corner. In what can occasionally happen on those scrums behind the net, the puck deflected out into a dangerous space.

That space was the left side of the net, where Sharks leading goal scorer Joe Pavelski was waiting.

Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper was able to make the miraculous play on the first shot at goal for the save, but the net was still wide open because of the recovery he was forced to make.

That’s where Coyotes forward Mario Kempe came in, sliding across the crease to block the shot like a goal-line clearance in soccer.

Perhaps the craziest moment in the sequence is when Kempe is facing the direction of the second attempt on goal. His face was fully exposed, and his teammate Conor Garland knows a thing or two about what can happen in those situations.

The madness briefly paused there before the puck wound up behind Kuemper, and with Kuemper still fully laid out on the ice, a pass was made to Joe Thornton with a wide-open net in front of him.

Somehow, there was still no goal for the Sharks when Coyotes defenseman Alex Goligoski was able to make a defensive play on Thornton and prevent his shot from getting anywhere in the net.

A goal during that sequence would have been two unanswered for the Sharks and the double save undoubtedly gave the Coyotes back some momentum.

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

Arizona Coyotes execute rare goaltender, skater double save