Arizona Coyotes Outplayed By Winnipeg Jets, Lose 5-2

The Arizona Coyotes got off to another poor start in Winnipeg and this time there was no clawing out of the hole. A hat trick by Nikolaj Ehlers combined with two goals by Dustin Byfuglien won the game for the Jets.

The Arizona Coyotes overcame a terrible start in Minnesota to pull out an unlikely victory in the shootout.

They would have no such luck in Winnipeg.

Nicolaj Ehlers scored three goals to net his first NHL hat trick, while Dustin Byfuglien beat Louis Domingue from center ice and then once again on a 5-on-3 shorthanded breakaway to sew the game up 5-2 for the Winnipeg Jets.

Michael Stone‘s two early penalties got things going in the wrong direction early, and the Arizona Coyotes were quickly down 2-0 thanks to Ehlers first two goals.

The first goal looked eerily similar to the overtime goal scored by Michael Stone/Mikkel Boedker last night that was overturned due to goalie interference. Guess what? This one wasn’t overturned.

Byfuglien scored to make it 3-0 on Domingue from center ice on a fluke dump that caught Louis trying to leave the crease to play the puck. A little while later, bad defending by Michael Stone (again) allowed Ehlers all the time in the world to snipe one top shelf past Domingue for the hat trick.

Brad Richardson got one back after Jordan Martinook‘s shot rebounded right to him off of Connor Hellebuyck. 4-1.

Right afterward, the Coyotes had a golden opportunity with a 5-on-3 power play for a minute and forty-five seconds. After giving up one breakaway shorthanded chance that was stopped by Domingue, the second breakaway chance on the 5-on-3 went into the net courtesy of Dustin Byfuglien. 5-1 Jets.

It was the 9th shorthanded goal allowed by the Arizona Coyotes this season.

Anthony Duclair scored a garbage time goal off of a nice feed from Martin Hanzal with 17 seconds left but it wasn’t much solace for the Yotes.

Winnipeg Jets win 5-2.

Player Performance

Michael Stone had one of the worst nights on the ice he’s probably had in his entire life. He was oft out of position, took three penalties on the night, and generally looked about as miserable as a player can in one isolated game. He’ll have a whole week to think about tonight.

Louis Domingue saw two goals go in his net early and then he appeared to stabilize until Byfuglien’s center ice goal fooled him and went off his pads and into the net. This was without question his worst night, and going forward it will be interesting to see how he bounces back after the break.

Anthony Duclair was rewarded late in the 3rd period with a goal after all of that hard work last night in Winnipeg. Unfortunately it was too little, too late.

Brad Richardson and his line continued to produce tonight, and for a brief moment it seemed like the Arizona Coyotes might get back in this game. Richardson has been mighty productive of late versus what you’d typically expect from a depth scorer.

Arizona Coyotes Player of the Game

It was a pretty rough night for everyone in a white jersey in Winnipeg tonight. Louis Domingue started decently despite the two early goals, but it all fell apart for him after the Byfuglien goal from center ice.

We’ll pass on a player of the game tonight in hopes that next week in LA we see a team that has it together again. Tonight was a very discombobulated effort on all fronts.

These games happen.

The View From The 200 Level

Well, that happened.

This was almost indisputably the worst game the Arizona Coyotes have played this season.

Early penalties got them on the back foot and they never managed to recover.

Michael Stone had perhaps his worst night as a professional hockey player. Dustin Byfuglien scored a goal from center ice as well as a shorthanded on a 5-on-3.

Next: Every Coyotes Fight From The 2012-13 Season

To top off giving up their league leading 9th shorthanded goal the Coyotes were also 0 for 5 on the power play. The game was basically a repeat of the middle part of their recent homestand with an inability to score and special teams costing the team standing points.

Add in some of the worst defending the Coyotes have exhibited in recent weeks and you have the perfect recipe for disaster.

It was a bad night.

Now the Coyotes get a week off to recover thanks to the All-Star break, and perhaps they’ll come back rejuvenated for the stretch run and a shot at the playoffs.

The Arizona Coyotes play the Los Angeles Kings on February 2nd.