Arizona Coyotes return home from 14-game road trip to beat NHL’s best Boston Bruins

Dec 9, 2022, 11:39 PM

Josh Brown #3 of the Arizona Coyotes celebrates with teammates on the bench after scoring a goal against the Boston Bruins during the first period of the NHL game at Mullett Arena on December 09, 2022 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

BY JAKE ANDERSON

Arizona Sports

TEMPE — The Arizona Coyotes returned to home ice on Friday night for just their fifth game at Mullett Arena.

After tying an NHL record with 14 consecutive games on the road, the team returned to Tempe to host the NHL’s best team in the Boston Bruins (21-4-1).

And despite getting outshot 46-16, the Coyotes (8-13-4) came out with a 4-3 win thanks to Lawson Crouse’s game-winning goal with 13.5 seconds remaining after the Bruins tried to get an icing call but ended up turning the puck over in their own zone.

pic.twitter.com/y99SPswlHY https://t.co/vAIHX0Gawv

— Jake Anderson (@jwa1994) December 10, 2022

“We were trying to sustain the pressure as much as we could, got the puck out and kind of a lucky curve to the puck it ended up on their net,” Crouse said postgame.

“(Matias Maccelli) didn’t stop, he chased it right down. I was kind of posted up at the blueline thinking it was going to be icing. He made a great pass to me on the open side and I tried to get it up as quick as I could and it went in.”

The victory over Boston was also largely due to Arizona goaltender Karel Vejmelka’s 43 saves. It marks the fifth-career 40-plus save performance from Vejmelka, who becomes the ninth goaltender in franchise history to achieve the feat.

“I give him a ton of credit,” Coyotes head coach André Tourigny said postgame. “Boston has a way to attack and we took away their No. 1 strength and Veg took care of the rest.

“So I think he was rock solid. For the most part of the game, not all game, but most parts of the game we kind of took their strength in the offensive zone away and Veg did the rest.”

The Coyotes only trailed once in the contest after taking the lead just 23 seconds into the game thanks to defenseman Josh Brown. The rookie’s third goal of the campaign was also the fastest on the season for Arizona thus far.

#Yotes Josh Brown's third goal of the season assisted by Matias Maccelli (16) and Lawson Crouse (3)pic.twitter.com/XCnz1kyTy1

— Jake Anderson (@jwa1994) December 10, 2022

Coyotes D Jakob Chychrun picked up an assist on the goal, marking his 150th career point to become the 13th defenseman in club history to do so.

The Bruins did most of their offensive damage on the power play, scoring two of their three goals with a man advantage. Boston finished the game 2-for-6 on the PP with just eight penalty minutes, while Arizona went 0-for-4 with 12 PIM.

“We were relentless, we were heavy, we went toe-to-toe with them on the intensity, the speed,” Tourigny said. “They are really fast to be honest. … That was pace flying out there. That’s a good team.”

LOOSE PUCKS

– The win snaps Boston’s 19-game winning streak over Arizona.

– Crouse has now scored in four of the five games at Mullett Arena.

UP NEXT

The Coyotes host the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday at 5 p.m. on ESPN 620 AM / 98.7 FM HD-2.

Follow @jwa1994

Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) celebrates his goal against the Arizona Coyotes with Bruins Charlie McAvoy (73) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Tempe, Ariz., Friday, Dec. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Coyotes defenseman Josh Brown, left, sends the puck past Boston Bruins left wing Jake DeBrusk, right, for a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Tempe, Ariz., Friday, Dec. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Boston Bruins defenseman Connor Clifton (75) skates with the puck against Arizona Coyotes center Travis Boyd (72) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Tempe, Ariz., Friday, Dec. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Boston Bruins center Charlie Coyle (13) celebrates his goal against the Arizona Coyotes with defenseman Charlie McAvoy (73) and center Trent Frederic, left, during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Tempe, Ariz., Friday, Dec. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Coyotes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (14) tries to keep the puck away from Boston Bruins left wing Taylor Hall (71) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Tempe, Ariz., Friday, Dec. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Coyotes goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) slides over to make the save on a shot by Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Tempe, Ariz., Friday, Dec. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Coyotes left wing Lawson Crouse, left, celebrates his goal against Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman, middle, as Bruins center Trent Frederic (11) reacts to the score during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Tempe, Ariz., Friday, Dec. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Coyotes center Nick Schmaltz (8) watches the puck in the net on his goal against Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Tempe, Ariz., Friday, Dec. 9, 2022. The Coyotes won 4-3. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Coyotes left wing Lawson Crouse (67) celebrates his goal against the Boston Bruins with left wing Matias Maccelli, left, and defenseman Troy Stecher, middle, during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Tempe, Ariz., Friday, Dec. 9, 2022. The Coyotes won 4-3. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy pauses on the ice after a goal by Arizona Coyotes' Lawson Crouse during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Tempe, Ariz., Friday, Dec. 9, 2022. The Coyotes won 4-3. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman looks at the puck in the net after giving up a goal to Arizona Coyotes' Lawson Crouse during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Tempe, Ariz., Friday, Dec. 9, 2022. The Coyotes won 4-3. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Coyotes center Jack McBain (22) goes over Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) as Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) watches during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Tempe, Ariz., Friday, Dec. 9, 2022. The Coyotes won 4-3. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Coyotes center Nick Schmaltz (8) celebrates his goal against the Boston Bruins with right wing Clayton Keller (9) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Tempe, Ariz., Friday, Dec. 9, 2022. The Coyotes won 4-3. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Coyotes center Nick Schmaltz (8) tries to keep the puck away from Boston Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk (48) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Tempe, Ariz., Friday, Dec. 9, 2022. The Coyotes won 4-3. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Coyotes defenseman Troy Stecher, left, smiles as he celebrates the team's 4-3 win against the Boston Bruins with left wing Lawson Crouse, right, after an NHL hockey game in Tempe, Ariz., Friday, Dec. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) works for the puck against Arizona Coyotes center Nick Bjugstad (17) as Bruins center Patrice Bergeron, left, looks back during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Tempe, Ariz., Friday, Dec. 9, 2022. The Coyotes won 4-3. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Coyotes goaltender Karel Vejmelka, right, makes a save on a shot by Boston Bruins left wing Nick Foligno (17) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Tempe, Ariz., Friday, Dec. 9, 2022. The Coyotes won 4-3. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron skates off the ice after the team's NHL hockey game against the Arizona Coyotes in Tempe, Ariz., Friday, Dec. 9, 2022. The Coyotes won 4-3. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Coyotes right wing Clayton Keller (9) works for the puck against Boston Bruins center Trent Frederic (11) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Tempe, Ariz., Friday, Dec. 9, 2022. The Coyotes won 4-3. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Coyotes right wing Christian Fischer (36) falls over Boston Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm (27) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Tempe, Ariz., Friday, Dec. 9, 2022. The Coyotes won 4-3. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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