ARIZONA COYOTES

Coyotes captain Ekman-Larsson scores game winner at IIHF Worlds

May 18, 2019, 5:11 PM

#23 Oliver Ekman-Larsson of Sweden passes the puck during the 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championsh...

#23 Oliver Ekman-Larsson of Sweden passes the puck during the 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Slovakia group game between Sweden and Austria at Ondrej Nepela Arena on May 16, 2019 in Bratislava, Slovakia. (Photo by RvS.Media/Robert Hradil/Getty Images)

(Photo by RvS.Media/Robert Hradil/Getty Images)

It isn’t Stanley Cup playoff hockey, but Arizona Coyotes captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson is scoring big goals in May.

Ekman-Larsson scored the game-winning goal for Sweden in its 4-3 win over Switzerland on Saturday in the group stage of the IIHF World Championships in Slovakia.

The Coyotes captain beat Switzerland’s goaltender glove side following a nifty pass from William Nylander with about eight minutes remaining to secure Sweden’s fourth win in five games.

It was OEL’s second goal and fourth point in five group stage games so far.

Ekman-Larsson is leading a squad that includes Maple Leafs winger Nylander, Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson, Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm, Flames center Elias Lindholm and Penguins forward Patric Hornqvist.

Ekman-Larsson was an alternate captain for Sweden last year. Flames forward Mikael Backlund was the captain.

At last year’s IIHF World Championship, Sweden won its 11th title and second in a row by defeating Switzerland in the final.

This season, Ekman-Larsson scored 14 goals with 30 assists for 44 points, the second-most on the Coyotes behind Clayton Keller, who had 47 points. Ekman-Larsson’s 4.6 relative Corsi-for percentage was the highest on the Coyotes among players who played at least 50 games, and his 23:39 average time on ice was the highest among all Arizona skaters.

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

Coyotes captain Ekman-Larsson scores game winner at IIHF Worlds