Arizona Coyotes Top Five Goals From October 2016

Oct 25, 2016; Newark, NJ, USA; The Arizona Coyotes celebrate a goal by Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (23) against the New Jersey Devils during the third period at Prudential Center. The Devils defeated the Coyotes 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 25, 2016; Newark, NJ, USA; The Arizona Coyotes celebrate a goal by Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (23) against the New Jersey Devils during the third period at Prudential Center. The Devils defeated the Coyotes 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
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Oct 25, 2016; Newark, NJ, USA; The Arizona Coyotes celebrate a goal by Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (23) against the New Jersey Devils during the third period at Prudential Center. The Devils defeated the Coyotes 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 25, 2016; Newark, NJ, USA; The Arizona Coyotes celebrate a goal by Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (23) against the New Jersey Devils during the third period at Prudential Center. The Devils defeated the Coyotes 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports /

The Arizona Coyotes 2016-17 season hasn’t started as planned, but there have still been some brilliant goals scored.

Arizona Coyotes play-by-play announcer Matt McConnell has called his share of goals for the franchise.

They haven’t been as frequent – or at least as impactful – as fans would have hoped so far in 2016, but a few of them were nothing to sneeze at.

From untimely penalties to porous goaltending, the Yotes have struggled mightily in their own end.

At times, fans have had to actively think about when the last time the good guys were in the offensive zone generating chances.

Though the rain clouds have been hovering, there have been bright spots.

Let’s explore the five best Arizona Coyotes goals from the month of October.

#5: Jakob Chychrun’s First NHL Goal

The brightest star on this year’s version of the Arizona Coyotes is 18-year-old Jakob Chychrun.

He can skate. He’s learning to defend. He has a brilliant offensive mind.

He’s already eating up nearly 18 minutes per night for Dave Tippett.

Related Story: Luke Schenn A Strong Mentor For Jakob Chychrun

Oh, and the kid can shoot.

So far, this mad scramble leading to Chychrun’s first NHL goal is his lone tally.

I suspect that won’t hold for long, however.

#4: Ryan White’s Game-Winning Goal Against His Former Team

Ryan White is a very polarizing player for the Arizona Coyotes’ fan base.

Some love his grit and tenacity. Others hate his knack for racking up penalty minutes.

Whatever their feelings about White, for one moment in October every Coyotes fan was on the “Whitey” bandwagon.

Gathering the puck and slipping a nice little sharp angle shot past Steve Mason, White secured victory for the visitors.

Of course, he immediately took a penalty and nearly cost the team the game, but hey.

#3: Radim Vrbata Beats King Henrik

Old guy on old guy violence is sometimes entertaining.

Particularly when the old guy on your team is beating the old guy on the other team.

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That was the case when the Arizona Coyotes squared off with the New York Rangers and Radim Vrbata beat vaunted goaltender Henrik Lundqvist not once, but twice.

His second goal, featuring a beautiful feed from Max Domi, beat Lundqvist about as cleanly and quickly as any goal you’ll ever see.

Lundqvist and Vrbata may or may not be a bit past their prime, but seeing them go head-to-head is a treat.

Maybe next time some of the young guys can join in?

#2: Martin Hanzal Scores While Jakob Chychrun Fights Luke Schenn’s Brother Brayden

There was a lot going on in this Marty Hanzal goal.

Michael Stone gets destroyed by Brayden Schenn and flung into the boards.

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Meanwhile, Martin Hanzal and Max Domi play pitch and catch until Hanzal ultimately scores while falling down.

Behind the play, rookie Jakob Chychrun drops the gloves with Schenn for the Stone hit.

Did we mention Jakob Chychrun’s pairing partner was Luke Schenn, Brayden Schenn’s older brother?

Awkward.

The Flyers protested and complained but the refs upheld the goal and Chychrun earned some respect.

We would love to hear his conversation with Luke, though.

#1: Laurent Dauphin Goes WWE, Scores Shorthanded Goal

The Hanzal goal was weird, but this Laurent Dauphin shortie was like a three part epic.

Dauphin applies pressure and causes the Canadiens’ Nathan Beaulieu to cough up the puck.

He then hip checks Beaulieu WWE style, sending him flying.

Beaulieu tries to recover as Brad Richardson fires on Carey Price, but gets booted out of the way by Dauphin once again.

Next: Alex Goligoski Struggling With Coyotes Through First 10 Games

The rebound finds Dauphin’s stick and he slots it past the best goaltender on Planet Earth.

That was awesome.

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