Bobrovsky stops 35 shots as Blue Jackets beat Coyotes
Dec 9, 2017, 8:11 PM | Updated: Dec 10, 2017, 4:00 am
Arizona Coyotes' Jakob Chychrun, right, and Columbus Blue Jackets' Josh Anderson chase the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
(AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Josh Anderson scored 30 seconds into the game and Sergei Bobrovsky did the rest, recording his 23rd career shutout as the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Arizona Coyotes 1-0 on Saturday night.
The reigning Vezina Trophy winner had 35 saves and got his fourth shutout this season as Columbus won its second game in as many days and its 10th out of 13.
Antti Raanta started in goal for the Coyotes after missing seven games with an injury and was sharp in stopping 33 shots.
But Bobrovsky was better, and the Blue Jackets (19-10-1) created more quality looks overall.
Anderson got his team-leading 11th goal when he picked up a hard Artemi Panarin ricochet pass off the back wall, skated around the net and snapped a shot over Raanta’s glove into the far corner. Pierre-Luc Dubois also got an assist.
Arizona (7-20-5) lost its third in a row and sixth out of its last seven.
The Coyotes outshot Columbus 11-10 in the first period and came away empty on several odd-man rushes.
One of their best chances to tie it came with about 6 minutes left in the second when Brendan Perlini sidestepped the Blue Jackets’ Lukas Sedlak and charged on a breakaway, only to have Bobrovsky knock down his shot. That was typical of the Coyotes’ evening.
They couldn’t capitalize despite skating on a power play for the last 2:53 of the game. They played 6-on-4 after pulling Ranta for the last 1:12, but Bobrovsky held them off with the help of two key blocked shots.
NOTES
Arizona D Jason Demers left the game early in the third period after he took a puck in the face. … Columbus F Cam Atkinson, who signed a seven-year, $41 million contract extension last month, was a healthy scratch. He has two goal and two assists in 14 games since returning from an injury Nov. 7. He’s been held without a point in the last six games. … F Sonny Milano was recalled from Cleveland of the American Hockey League and started on the third line. … F Nick Cousins and D Kyle Capobianco were scratches for the Arizona. … Blue Jackets D Ryan Murray missed his sixth game with an upper-body injury. Scott Harrington again skated in his place.
NEXT UP
Coyotes at Blackhawks
When: Sunday, 5 p.m.
Where: United Center, Chicago
TV: FOX Sports Arizona
Radio: ESPN 620 AM
Records: Coyotes — 7-19-5. Blackhawks — 13-11-5.
Injury report: Coyotes — D Niklas Hjalmarsson (upper body) is day to day. Blackhawks — D Michal Rozsival (concussion) is out indefinitely.
Blackhawks scouting report: The Blackhawks were mired in a season-long five-game losing streak (0-3-2) before Friday’s 3-2 overtime win against the Buffalo Sabres. They have scored two or fewer goals in six of their past 10 games. … D Duncan Keith hasn’t scored in his last 43 games. … F Patrick Kane leads the team with 17 assists and 27 points. Rookie F Alex DeBrincat leads the team with 12 goals.
