Coyotes score 3 unanswered, get much-needed win against Montreal

Feb 10, 2020, 8:08 PM | Updated: 8:54 pm

Taylor Hall #91 of the Arizona Coyotes celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL game at the Bell Centre on February 10, 2020 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Francois Lacasse/NHLI via Getty Images)

(Photo by Francois Lacasse/NHLI via Getty Images)

BY KELLAN OLSON

Suns reporter, ArizonaSports.com editor

The Arizona Coyotes were in an absolute tailspin prior to Monday night’s 3-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens.

They had lost 10 of their last 12 games and were out of playoff position for the first time in nearly three months, but the light at the end of the tunnel that everyone knew was coming would be the return of goaltender Darcy Kuemper. The favorite for the Vezina Trophy before he got hurt on Dec.19 was named an All-Star and his return would be the jolt Arizona so desperately needed.

That was expected to come in Monday’s game but Kuemper re-injured himself in the morning skate and was ruled out, leaving the job to Antti Raanta.

And after the Coyotes gave up two goals in just shortly over three minutes to open the game, it looked like things were only going to get worse.

They got a break, though, in the late first period, when Phil Kessel just came on the ice for his shift into the puck, finding Derek Stepan for a goal.

Okay now this we like MUCH better! #Yotes 1 | #GoHabsGo 2

1st Period pic.twitter.com/iTmedBhqrH

— FOX Sports Arizona (@FOXSPORTSAZ) February 11, 2020

After an onslaught of shots from Arizona in the second period, Taylor Hall was found in the slot by Christian Dvorak, and Hall fired an absolute laser beam past Montreal’s Carey Price for his 14th goal of the season and a 2-2 tied score.

In the third period, we were at the point where this would almost be a bad loss for the Coyotes considering they were outshooting the Canadiens 28-13 entering it.

Montreal, however, came storming back, doubling their shot total and then some all the way to 28 total, winning the shots on goal battle in the final period 15-6.

That’s where Raanta had to make some huge saves, and he did, including this glove beauty on the Canadiens’ Tomas Tatar.

Antti Raanta save #coyotes 2-2 #yotes #ourpack pic.twitter.com/kI6vnK2YFc

— GlendaleCardinals (@YotesGlendale) February 11, 2020

The goaltender gave the Coyotes enough of a chance to squeak through to a win if they could find one more goal, and on the power play late in the third, Arizona defenseman Jakob Chychrun launched a missile from the blue line that got through everybody and found the back of the net for the 3-2 lead.

COYOTES TAKE THE LEAD! pic.twitter.com/KMV5NnA51o

— FOX Sports Arizona (@FOXSPORTSAZ) February 11, 2020

Raanta made another huge save in the last minute when the Canadiens tried to answer and Arizona held on for their first win on the road in over a month, going all the way back to Jan. 7 in Florida to find their last.

UP NEXT

The Coyotes are back in action on Tuesday, again in Canada, this time against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Puck drop is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.

Follow @KellanOlson

Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs' Laurent Duvernay Tardiff drops the puck in the ceremonial faceoff with Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) and Arizona Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (23) before their NHL hockey game Monday, Feb. 10, 2020 in Montreal. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price (31) stops Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun (6) during first-period NHL hockey game action, Monday, Feb. 10, 2020, in Montreal. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens center Jake Evans (71) scores his first NHL goal, against Arizona Coyotes goaltender Antti Raanta (32), during first-period hockey game action, Monday, Feb. 10, 2020, in Montreal. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP)

Arizona Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (23) falls atop of Montreal Canadiens center Nick Suzuki (14) during first-period NHL hockey game action, Monday, Feb. 10, 2020, in Montreal. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price (31) stops Arizona Coyotes left wing Taylor Hall (91) during first period NHL hockey action, Monday, Feb. 10, 2020 in Montreal. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP)

Arizona Coyotes goaltender Antti Raanta (32) makes a save against Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) during second-period NHL hockey game action, Monday, Feb. 10, 2020, in Montreal. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP)

Arizona Coyotes right wing Conor Garland (83) and centre Christian Dvorak (18) go after a loose puck in front of Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price (31) during second period NHL hockey action, Monday, Feb. 10, 2020 in Montreal. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Marco Scandella (28) checks Arizona Coyotes right wing Christian Fischer (36) during second period NHL hockey action, Monday, Feb. 10, 2020 in Montreal. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens center Phillip Danault (24) takes a puck to the face in front of Arizona Coyotes goaltender Antti Raanta (32) during second period NHL hockey action, Monday, Feb. 10, 2020 in Montreal. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP)

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.