The Arizona Coyotes Come In Clutch With Five Vital Overtime Goals This Past Season.
The Arizona Coyotes participated in 18 games this season that required an overtime period. In those 18 games, 10 were determined by way of a shootout. The rebuild season did not help the Arizona Coyotes out in the extra period, as they only came out on top five times.
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Overtime hockey has proven itself to be one of the most exciting instances in all of sports. Each team sends four players out on the ice, in hopes of ending the game with one single goal.
It is a winner-take-all style of play, as the first goal scored in the five minutes of extra time will seal it for the team. However, if no one scores, play moves to a shootout format that pits the goalie against a single skater.
Overtime hockey is crucial, when it comes to the final league standings. Sending the game into the additional period guarantees each side one point, no matter if they win or lose. The additional point received from beating your opponent goes farther than most people think.
Out of the 18 games that featured an overtime period, the Arizona Coyotes were only able to score five times to end it there. Howlin’ Hockey puts the spotlight on those five match-ups with our new ‘Overtime Winning Goals’ series.
October 11, 2014: Los Angeles Kings @ Arizona Coyotes
Goal Scorer: Oliver Ekman-Larsson
The first overtime game of the season happened early in the year in a game against the Los Angeles Kings. The rivalry between these two Pacific division foes electrified this hockey game from the start. The Kings jumped out on top early with a pair of goals in the first period. The Arizona Coyotes did not let that get to them, as Antoine Vermette and Keith Yandle would tie the game up to send it to overtime.
The final goal of the contest started off with a beautiful screen by Shane Doan. With Jonathan Quick having trouble seeing the puck, Oliver Ekman-Larsson sent a pass to Vermette. Antoine Vermette fed the puck right back to Ekman-Larsson, who found an open shooting lane. Quick crouched down on the ice to see the play, but it would be too late. OEL would fire the puck over the shoulders of the goaltender, to win the game.
October 25, 2014: Florida Panthers @ Arizona Coyotes
Goal Scorer: Oliver Ekman-Larsson
The next overtime game-winner happened two weeks later. The Florida Panthers came to Gila River Arena in hopes of going back home with a win. The Arizona Coyotes peppered the opposing goaltender, Roberto Luongo, with 41 total shots this game. Only two regulation goals were scored in the game; both coming in the third period. Arizona Coyotes forward, Justin Hodgman ended up tying the game, in his NHL debut.
The Arizona Coyotes went on a full attack in the overtime period. Keith Yandle took command at the blue line, and fired a rocket of a pass to Sam Gagner, who immediately gave it to Ekman-Larsson. OEL shot the one-timer past Luongo at point-blank range, for the Arizona Coyotes victory.
December 16, 2014: Edmonton Oilers @ Arizona Coyotes
Goal Scorer: Oliver Ekman-Larsson
The third overtime game-winner occurred on December 16, 2014. Just like the other two games, Oliver Ekman-Larsson would be the hero. Overtime periods are known for being dramatic, as every shot makes an impact. With that being said, OEL decided to increase the intensity a little more by scoring with a fraction of a second left in the game.
Martin Erat slid down center ice, as time ticked down to the final five seconds. Erat passed the puck to Sam Gagner who glided past the blue line. He dropped the puck back to Ekman-Larsson, who fired a slap-shot as time expires. The puck flew past Ben Scrivens, with only 0.3 seconds remaining on the clock!
March 24, 2015: Arizona Coyotes @ Detroit Red Wings
Goal Scorer: Mark Arcobello
The Detroit Red Wings and Arizona Coyotes battled it out in a late season match that required more than sixty minutes of playing time.
Puck Prose
This game would be a high scoring affair, as both sides scored four times before the additional period began. The scoring swapped between both teams, as Arizona would initially score, only to have Detroit answer. (they have a knack of doing that…)
The Arizona Coyotes were set to regroup, and begin another rush in the middle of this overtime period. Ekman-Larsson slowly took the puck out of the Coyotes zone to set up the play. Mark Arcobello flew down the center of the ice, in hopes of finding an open lane to blast a shot on net.
As Arcobello sped past the Detroit forwards, OEL slid the puck to his stick. Arcobello then split the defensemen in order to shoot the puck towards Jimmy Howard. Detroit’s goaltender hugged the near-side post, only for the puck slide past the opposite side for the goal.
March 26, 2015: Arizona Coyotes @ Buffalo Sabres
Goal Scorer: Sam Gagner
The final overtime game winner for the Arizona Coyotes occurred on March 26, 2015. This was a very interesting game for fans, as it featured the bottom two teams in the league. To no surprise, the “Battle for McEichel” needed more than sixty minutes to determine a winner.
The Arizona Coyotes found themselves on the power-play early on in the overtime period against the Sabres. Ekman-Larsson and Moore began to cycle the puck, in order to find a shooting lane. Moore fed the puck to OEL at the point. Oliver then found Sam Gagner in the left face-off circle. Gagner held, then fired a slapshot past the goaltender to light the lamp for the win.
Next: Arizona Coyotes Throwback: Shane Doan's Hat-Trick
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