Arizona Coyotes Drop To Dallas Stars 4-1
The Arizona Coyotes struggled throughout and lost to the Dallas Stars on Thursday night.
The Arizona Coyotes traveled to Texas to take on the Stars for the final time in 2015-16.
With a final slate chock full of playoff teams, the Coyotes are primed for a rocky road to cap off a resurgent season.
Early in the first period it was all Dallas Stars. The Yotes took an early penalty and never really recovered to put any pressure on their opponents.
Late in the first, however, some magic from Anthony Duclair and Max Domi created a goal for the good guys.
After a nifty pass from Duclair across to Domi, Domi setup Martin Hanzal for the easiest goal of his life. Coyotes led late in the first 1-0.
Shortly afterward, the Stars got it back when Patrick Eaves scored a bit of a garbage goal on Mike Smith. The first period ended knotted 1-1.
Just 11 seconds into the second period, Radek Faksa scored for the Stars to give them a 2-1 lead. Halfway through the period, Jamie Benn scored his 40th goal to extend the lead to 3-1.
Patrick Sharp sealed the victory with an empty netter. Dallas Stars win 4-1.
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The View From The 200 Level
It was a bit of a rough night for the Arizona Coyotes.
Mike Smith never seemed to get comfortable and had a bit of a bad night in net, and the Coyotes skaters didn’t do much in front of him to make it any better.
There were just too many injuries and absences to go around for the Yotes to hang in there with a team as talented as the Stars. There’s a reason they lead the Western Conference and have for most of the season.
In replacement of a few of the injured Arizona Coyotes, the team suited up two career AHL players in both players’ second stints in the NHL.
Defenseman Alex Grant was playing in his first NHL game since 2013-14, and he dropped the gloves with Colton Sceviour late in the second period.
Eric Selleck, playing his first NHL game since the 2012-13 season, dropped the gloves with Jordie Benn in the third period and went to the locker room with an apparent shoulder injury.
Next: Coyotes Goaltending Outlook: Analyzing This Season And Predicting 2016-17
In moderately good news, Martin Hanzal broke his career high of 40 points with his 41st point on his second period goal. Unfortunately, Hanzal was lost to an undisclosed upper-body injury shortly afterward though it was rumored to just be an illness.
The Arizona Coyotes face off against the Washington Capitals on Saturday night in their final home game at Gila River Arena this season.