Arizona Coyotes Top Five Moments Of The 2014 Season

Apr 7, 2015; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Arizona Coyotes left wing Craig Cunningham (22) celebrates his goal with teammates against the Calgary Flames during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary Flames won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

The Arizona Coyotes had an interesting season to say the least.

The 2014-2015 NHL season had many highs and lows for the Arizona Coyotes. Even though the team finished with a dismal 24-50-8 record (29th in the league), there are many positives to take away from this year.

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Rebuilding a franchise is a delicate process, and the Coyotes are making an effort to put the team in a position for a Stanley Cup run in the next few years. General Manager Don Maloney hit the ground running with an active trade deadline, that sent players to multiple teams. He then began integrating new faces into the line-ups in hopes of giving some players experience on NHL ice.

The next step for the team was selecting a core group of skillful, young players at the 2015 NHL Draft. In what experts say has been a very successful draft for the Coyotes, the team drafted raw talent that will be beneficial to the franchise in the future. The team is currently signing veteran players to compliment the young guys on the ice.

Aside from the off-ice roster moves, the Coyotes had many highlights from this past year as well. This team may not have had the best performance this year, but they certainly gave fans something to cheer about on multiple occasions.

Howlin’ Hockey ranks the top five moments of the 2014-2015 season for the Arizona Coyotes.

** Don’t forget to vote for your favorite in our poll at the end. **

Next: Moment Number 5

5. Throwback Night

Mar 5, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Coyotes right wing Shane Doan (19) warms up in a retro uniform prior to facing the Vancouver Canucks at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

On March 5, 2015 the Arizona Coyotes dusted off their old Kachina logo to put it on display for one night only. In a game against the Vancouver Canucks, the entire team put on the old black and green sweaters that were used from 1996 to 2003. Shane Doan would be the only player on the Coyotes roster to have worn this throwback sweater before.

Goaltender Mike Smith would put extra thought in to this occasion as he had an entirely new mask made for this game only:

This was the first time the Coyotes used this alternate uniform since 2003, in what would be a very anticipated game. While the team’s apparel traveled back in time to the ’90s, the Coyotes displayed the same hard-hitting mentality we know them for today.

The Vancouver Canucks came to Gila River Arena, and would ultimately be sent home with a loss. The game would need extra time, as the two goals scored by Tobias Rieder and B.J. Crombeen in regulation would not be enough. Sam Gagner would eventually be the hero, as he scored the only goal in the shootout to seal the win for the Arizona Coyotes. Mike Smith would end the night with a .941 save percentage, as well.

Final Score: Arizona Coyotes-3     Vancouver Canucks-2

Next: Moment Number 4

4. Doan’s Broken Stick Goal Beats Ducks In A Shootout

Dec 27, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Coyotes right wing Shane Doan (19) scores the game winning goal against Anaheim Ducks goalie Frederik Andersen at Gila River Arena. The Coyotes defeated the Ducks 2-1 in an overtime shootout. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Arizona Coyotes were involved in one of hockey’s most unusual shootout endings of the season. In a game between the Arizona Coyotes and the Anaheim Ducks, sixty minutes would not be enough time. Each team would score only once as the goaltenders played phenomenally.

Puck Prose

Frederik Andersen of the Anaheim Ducks finished with a save percentage of .966 (29 shots faced), and Devan Dubnyk of the Arizona Coyotes finished with a save percentage of .972 (36 shots faced). The two goal scorers for each team would be Zbynek Michalek for the Coyotes, and Rene Bourque of the Ducks.

The Arizona Coyotes would battle it out with the Anaheim Ducks deep into overtime. The goaltenders made tremendous saves on each side to keep the game alive. The match would eventually require a shootout to determine a winner. After three shooters came up empty for each team, it would be Shane Doan’s turn to end it.

Shane Doan’s attempt would be one that he will remember for the rest of his life:

As the video showed, Shane Doan would score off a broken stick play. Frederik Andersen was so distracted from Doan’s broken blade that the puck slid in to the net. This would hold up as the game winner.

"More important to note: The video above provides documented evidence that Dave Tippett can indeed smile."

Final Score: Arizona Coyotes-2     Anaheim Ducks-1

Next: Moment Number 3

3. Hat-Tricks For Boedker And Hanzal

Oct 15, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Coyotes left wing Mikkel Boedker (89) scores a power play goal on Edmonton Oilers goalie Ben Scrivens (30) during a breakaway in the first period at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

There were only two players to record hat-tricks for the Arizona Coyotes this season. Nearly a month apart, Mikkel Boedker, and Martin Hanzal scored three goals in a single game for a Coyotes win.

Boedker’s Hat-Trick:

The first Arizona Coyotes hat-trick occurred on October 15, 2014. The Edmonton Oilers traveled down to Gila River Arena to take on the Desert Dogs in the third game of the season. Mikkel Boedker was looked upon as the key goal scorer going in to this season, and did not disappoint. Boedker had the skills to put three pucks past Edmonton goaltender, Ben Scrivens, for a 7-4 Coyotes win.

Final Score: Arizona Coyotes-7     Edmonton Oilers-4

Hanzal’s Hat-Trick:

The second and final hat-trick from an Arizona Coyotes player happened a month after Boedker’s. Martin Hanzal, and the Coyotes dominated the Vancouver Canucks in a game on November 14, 2014. Devan Dubnyk shut-out the Canucks (35 saves) on the road in a 5-0 victory. Hanzal completed his hat-trick with the final two goals only nine seconds apart.

Final Score: Arizona Coyotes-5     Vancouver Canucks-0

Next: Moment Number 2

2. Mike Smith’s Miraculous Save In Overtime

Feb 9, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; A shot goes off the crossbar with Arizona Coyotes goalie Mike Smith (41) attempting a save during the overtime period against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center. Arizona won 3-2 in a shoot out. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Smith came through with a tremendous save in a game against the Chicago Blackhawks on February 9, 2015. Nobody picked the Coyotes to win on the road in Chicago, but Mike Smith proved everyone wrong.

The game went back and forth during regulation time. Marian Hossa put the Blackhawks on the board first with a goal twelve minutes in to the second period. Shane Doan answered with a power-play tally of his own five minutes later.

The game remained tied at the beginning of the third period. Antoine Vermette would later put the Coyotes on top with a beautiful deflection off Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s shot from the point, four minutes in. Hossa would notch his second goal of the contest to keep it tied to finish the third.

Chicago knew that the only way to win this game would be to pepper Mike Smith with consecutive shots, and that’s exactly what they did. With 19 seconds left in overtime, Brandon Saad fed the puck to Andrew Shaw who released a quick slap shot.

Shaw would ultimately be denied:

Mike Smith would stretch out his glove to make the save only to have the puck trickle past him. In a last moment effort, Smith threw his body across the goal-line to make the save. The play would be put under official review, only to have the call on the ice stand as “no-goal.” Lucas Lessio and Antoine Vermette would finish the Blackhawks off in a shootout.

Chicago Blackhawks Head Coach, Joel Quenneville had this to say about the call:

"“Live, it looked like it was in, replays you could argue, you could argue, you could argue. It was awfully close. I don’t think it could get any closer.”"

That stop will go down as one of Mike Smith’s career bests. He never gave up on the play, which ultimately led to a Coyotes victory.

Final Score: Arizona Coyotes-3     Chicago Blackhawks-2

Next: Moment Number 1

1. Ekman-Larsson’s Overtime Buzzer Beater

Dec 16, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (23) celebrate goalie Devan Dubnyk (40) after scoring the game winning goal in overtime scored with 0.3 seconds left in the period to beat the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Arizona Coyotes fans can not get enough of Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The kid can do it all, and this season was no different. Last year he tied the franchise record for goals scored by a defenseman in a season (23), and does not show any signs of slowing down. OEL added to his list of ‘Overtime Game-Winners’ with a unique goal on December 16, 2014 against the Edmonton Oilers.

The Edmonton Oilers came to town in hopes of sneaking a win past the Arizona Coyotes, and an electrifying crowd at Gila River Arena. There were only two regulation goals in this game before OEL became the hero in overtime. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins started things off with a snipe past Dubnyk in the first period. Brandon McMillan would tie the game in the second period to eventually send this one to overtime.

Ben Scrivens had an incredible performance this game as he stopped 42 of 44 shots. While Scrivens was good that night, Ekman-Larsson happened to be slightly better.

OEL seals the win for the Coyotes with a beautiful slap-shot as time expires:

It does not get better than this.

Dec 16, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; The scoreboard shows the time left in overtime after a goal by Arizona Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (23) to beat the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Oliver Ekman-Larsson had this to say during the post-game interview:

"“I took a look, there were 15 seconds left. I was out there for a minute and a half and I was kind of tired. But when I saw the guys kept the puck in I said ‘All right, let’s do this one more time.’ I don’t know what it is, but I’m not going to complain about scoring overtime goals. It would be nice to have a few 5-on-5 goals too. Winning is fun.”"

Oliver Ekman-Larsson has been emerging as “Mr. Overtime” this season with numerous game winners in extra time. OEL has been improving his game as the seasons progress. He led the entire NHL this past season with goals scored by a defenseman.

Expect Ekman-Larsson to have an even larger leadership role this season with the young talent being added to the roster. With Shane Doan edging closer to retirement, OEL should be next in line to become captain of the Arizona Coyotes. With an All-Star selection in the books, Oliver Ekman-Larsson now sets his sights on a Norris Trophy and a Stanley Cup.

Final Score: Arizona Coyotes-2     Edmonton Oilers-1

Next: Honorable Mention Moment And Poll

Honorable Mention: Rieder’s Two Short-Handed Goals On The Same Penalty Kill

Mar 28, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Arizona Coyotes center Tobias Rieder (8) scores a goal past Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Thomas Greiss (1) during the third period at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Penguins won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

One moment that was not included in our rankings happened on December 1, 2014 by a surprising member of the Arizona Coyotes. Tobias Rieder was the rookie who played the most games (72) for the Coyotes this season. Rieder tallied a total of 13 goals and 8 assists this year for the Arizona Coyotes.

Two of those thirteen goals came in an unusual fashion:

A player scoring a short-handed goal is a special feat in itself. A player scoring twice shorthanded in the same game is rare, but possible. Tobias Rieder did not just score one short-handed goal this game, he scored two…on the same penalty kill.

Rieder used his speed and sharp skating abilities to bust loose through the defense on this penalty kill in Edmonton. He would not be denied as he was alone on two separate break-aways to bring home an Arizona Coyotes win. Rieder’s two goals were only 58 seconds apart.

Final Score: Arizona Coyotes-5     Edmonton Oilers-2

Which Arizona Coyotes moment was your favorite? Let us know in the poll below:

Next: Coyotes Uniform History: Which Sweater Is The Team's Best?