The Arizona Coyotes (5-2-1) achieved Objective #1 on their current eastern US road trip, beating the New York Rangers (2-5) in overtime 3 to 2.
It wasn’t a thing of beauty from a stylistic standpoint, but a win is a win. Following your system can be mighty difficult for any team on the road without sixty minutes of focused, disciplined play.
LW Christian Dvorak’s game-winning missile over the left shoulder of helpless goalkeeper Alexandar Georgiev at 1:04 into overtime was a satisfying ending to a sometimes sloppy contest, yet the resilient Coyotes prevailed to get the extra point.
Next objective?
Beating the streaking New York Islanders (5-3) on Thursday night, October 24 at 4:00 p.m., at the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island. This game should be an exciting contest between two hot teams, as both the Islanders and the Coyotes have won four games in a row. The well-rested Islanders last played on October 19 and beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3 to 2 in overtime in Columbus.
Prior to that the New York Islanders beat the Florida Panthers, the defending Stanley Cup Champion St. Louis Blues, and the Winnipeg Jets. The Islanders have scored 3 goals in each of their last four games.
The Islanders are led by scoring threats such as Centers Mathew Barzal and Brock Nelson, both with 4 goals and 7 points apiece. Left-wingers Anthony Beauvillier and Josh Bailey have six points each. Defensive stalwarts Nick Leddy, Devon Toews (2 goals & 3 assists), and Johnny Boychuk, along with goalkeepers Semyon Varlamov and Thomas Greiss, have played key roles during the Islanders’ winning streak.
In eight games, or about one-tenth of the regular season thus far, the Arizona Coyotes have Nick Schmaltz leading the team with 3 goals and 6 assists for 9 points, while teammates Christian Dvorak and Conor Garland have 4 goals and an assist apiece. The Yotes’ balanced attack includes ten Coyotes who have at least 3 assists each.
With the first of their four away games filed proudly under the “Win” column, the ‘Yotes turn their collective attention to the New York Islanders, intending to make another statement. Let’s go Coyotes!