Arizona Coyotes D Ilya Lyubushkin scores 1st career NHL goal

Arizona Coyotes D Ilya Lyubushkin will never forget Wednesday night’s contest against the Los Angeles Kings at the Staples Center.

That’s because the Russian scored the first goal of his NHL career in the first period of the game.

ILYAAAAAAAAAAA! 2-0 Coyotes! pic.twitter.com/uL3cUlGOd3

— Bally Sports Arizona (@BallySportSAZ) April 8, 2021

With the Coyotes up 1-0 and just over five minutes to go in the opening period, Arizona LW Lawson Crouse had a rip that went just wide of the net and ricocheted off the boards right to Lyubushkin.

That would set up the Russian for a one-timer from inside the point that beat Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick to give the Coyotes a 2-0 lead.

Lyubushkin was activated to the Arizona roster on Feb. 1 and has one assist in his now 26 appearances for the Coyotes this season.

Los Angeles C Jaret Anderson-Dolan, Adrian Kempe, C Jeff Carter and RW Carl Grundstrom all scored for the Kings.

Arizona LW Johan Larsson also got in on the scoring action.

The Coyotes fell 4-3 after the Kings scored three unanswered goals in the third period.

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