ARIZONA COYOTES

Coyotes goalie Antti Raanta’s scorpion save might be best of year

Feb 1, 2020, 9:32 PM | Updated: 9:55 pm
Arizona Coyotes goaltender Antti Raanta (32) makes a kick-save against the Chicago Blackhawks as Co...

Arizona Coyotes goaltender Antti Raanta (32) makes a kick-save against the Chicago Blackhawks as Coyotes center Carl Soderberg (34) and referee Jean Hebert, top center, looks on during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

The Arizona Coyotes fell 3-2 in a shootout to the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday night, but goalie Antti Raanta did everything in his power to keep Arizona fighting as long as possible.

He might have made the save of the year late in the third period.

Blackhawks forward Kirby Dach streaked up the middle and put a shot on goal, but Raanta made a nice save. The puck was hit back out in front of the goal.

Raanta went down on his stomach, giving forward Brandon Saad an opening for his third goal of the game. But Raanta rose both of his skates in the air and managed to deflect the shot with his left foot.

Here’s another angle of the scorpion save, this one with the full play:

“At first, it was a close play and then the puck was bouncing and I got myself back to the middle of the crease,” Raanta said. “I was kind of sprawling there and I didn’t even know where the puck was anymore. Just an instinct. Instincts got me and I lift my legs, and luckily it hit the skates.”

That wasn’t his only excellent save. In overtime, Dominik Kubalik had a wide-open lane the entire way down the ice thanks to the 3-on-3 line. But Raanta was in position and casually caught it.

Raanta finished with 42 saves, one below his season-high.

“He just battled,” said Coyotes head coach Rick Tocchet. “That’s all you ask for a goalie, to battle. Don’t let them get that third goal. And that got us back in the game.”

Raanta helped the Coyotes earn a point despite falling in overtime.

“Obviously nice to get that kind of save and get us to the OT,” Raanta said. “But it doesn’t really warm you right now when you lose the game.”

Arizona Coyotes goaltender Antti Raanta (32) makes a kick-save against the Chicago Blackhawks as Coyotes center Carl Soderberg (34) and referee Jean Hebert, top center, looks on during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Coyotes defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson (4) and Chicago Blackhawks center Zack Smith (15) become entangled as they go for the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews (19) celebrates his goal against the Arizona Coyotes during a shootout in an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jason Demers (55) and defenseman Jordan Oesterle (82) collide during the first period of the team's NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. The Blackhawks won 3-2 in a shootout. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford (50) makes a save on a shot from Arizona Coyotes center Nick Schmaltz (8) during a shootout in an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Chicago Blackhawks left wing Brandon Saad (20) gets the puck past Arizona Coyotes center Nick Schmaltz (8) and Coyotes goaltender Antti Raanta (32) for a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford (50) gives up a goal to Arizona Coyotes right wing Conor Garland, right, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Coyotes right wing Conor Garland shouts as he celebrates his goal against the Chicago Blackhawks during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford (50) makes a save on a shot from Arizona Coyotes left wing Lawson Crouse (67) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Coyotes goaltender Antti Raanta, left, gives up a goal to Chicago Blackhawks' Brandon Saad as Blackhawks center Kirby Dach (77) and Arizona Coyotes right wing Christian Fischer, second from right, battle for position during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Chicago Blackhawks left wing Brandon Saad (20) celebrates his goal against the Arizona Coyotes during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Coyotes

Matias Maccelli #63 of the Arizona Coyotes shoots to score a goal past goaltender Jack Campbell #36...
Associated Press

Coyotes drop 5th straight game in home loss to Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers beat the Arizona Coyotes 5-4 from a late third period goal on Monday night at Mullett Arena.
1 day ago
Clayton Keller #9 of the Arizona Coyotes celebrates with teammate Juuso Valimaki #4 after scoring a...
Arizona Sports

Clayton Keller breaks Coyotes’ point streak record with spinning goal in loss vs. Avs

Clayton Keller extended his points streak to 12 games, and no other player since the franchise relocated has hit that mark.
2 days ago
General manager Bill Armstrong of the Arizona Coyotes talks during the first round of the 2022 Uppe...
Arizona Sports

Coyotes’ Armstrong admires team fight as draft lottery position unfolds

The NHL’s top record was done by midseason thanks to Boston, but the chase for the worst mark remains up for grabs in the final three weeks.
3 days ago
Team Owner, Chairman and Governor Andrew Barroway of the Arizona Coyotes greets fan during a red ca...
Arizona Sports

NHL suspends Coyotes minority owner after arrest for strangulation charge

The NHL said it is aware of the arrest of Arizona Coyotes minority owner Andrew Barroway and has suspended him indefinitely.
3 days ago
EDMONTON, CANADA - MARCH 22: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers skates against Nick Schmaltz...
Associated Press

Connor McDavid’s 60th goal gives Coyotes OT loss to Oilers

The Arizona Coyotes dropped their second loss in a road back-to-back after Connor McDavid scored his 60th goal of the year in overtime.
6 days ago
The spot light shines on Lawson Crouse #67 of the Arizona Coyotes after he scores a goal against th...
Associated Press

Coyotes’ 4-game winning streak ends after loss to Jets

The Arizona Coyotes had won six out of their last seven games and four straight before a loss to the Jets on Tuesday.
7 days ago
Coyotes goalie Antti Raanta’s scorpion save might be best of year