The Wrap: Keller’s Hat Trick Sparks Coyotes’ Win Over Golden Knights
It was a magical desert night time at The Mullet.
Clayton Keller recorded his second hat trick of the season, Dylan Guenther added a objective of his personal, and Karel Vejmelka made 35 saves because the Arizona Coyotes beat the Vegas Golden Knights 4-1 at Mullett Enviornment on Sunday.
The Coyotes, who debuted their ‘Desert Evening’ third jerseys through the sport, had been on the assault from the very begin, notching early objectives in each the primary and second durations en path to the win.
It was a stark distinction to Saturday’s 4-0 loss in Dallas, the place the Stars used three first-period objectives to take management of the sport.
“I believe that was a lesson discovered from our guys,” head coach André Tourigny stated. “You noticed the way in which we began the sport in the present day. It was as anticipated, to be trustworthy. It was no more, that is the way in which you need to begin.
“That is the way in which it ought to be.”
Former Coyotes ahead Phil Kessel scored for Vegas, who misplaced for the fourth time in 5 video games. Goalie Logan Thompson, who was in web for the second consecutive night time, stopped 19 of the 22 pictures he confronted within the sport.
Keller stole the present, although, because the 24-year-old ahead used well timed scoring and robust protection to assist put the Golden Knights away. His first tally, which he recorded because the Coyotes already had a 1-0 lead, got here simply 1:39 into the second interval.
He then scored twice extra within the third — together with an empty-netter with simply over 4 minutes remaining — to ice the sport.
“Now he is enjoying like Kells,” Tourigny stated. “I am not speaking about his three objectives. It is greater than that. It is his competitiveness, defensively in battles — he is trending again the place he was at his finest final 12 months.
“I believe he performs with an edge and a ardour proper now, which is contagious.”
Sunday marked the three-time All-Star’s second-career hat trick, each of which have come this season. He had only one level over his final seven video games, however his offensive explosion towards the Golden Knights vaulted him into the workforce lead with 18 objectives and 23 assists in 47 video games this season.
“Lengthy season, you are going to undergo robust instances,” Keller stated. “Generally you do not get the bounces that you simply deserve, and that is one thing that I’ve discovered enjoying on this league. Simply not getting pissed off and sticking with it; It was good to see some go in tonight.”
Vejmelka did his half to maintain Vegas at bay all through the night time, permitting only one objective on 36 pictures. Kessel’s power-play objective at 9:03 of the second interval pulled the Golden Knights to inside one, however the 26-year-old netminder shut the door the remainder of the way in which.
Vejmelka, who donned a glowing new set of pads to go together with the Coyotes’ new threads, is 7-4-2 at Mullett Enviornment this season.
“I believe we performed actually good defensively,” Vejmelka stated. “I noticed lots of pucks, and we blocked lots of pictures as properly. My teammates performed a very good sport for certain, and we simply have to preserve going.”
Guenther helped set the tone from the outset, scoring simply two minutes into the sport. The 19-year-old rookie one-timed a feed from the left circle previous Thompson, giving the Coyotes an early lead.
Arizona fed off the momentum from there and went toe-to-toe with the primary place Golden Knights for all the sport.
“It was good to have a very good begin there” Keller stated. “That type of helped us keep within the sport. It was good to see some objectives go in, too.”
The Coyotes are again in motion at dwelling on Tuesday towards the Anaheim Geese, and the sport can be broadcast on Bally Sports activities Arizona Further (TV) and ESPN 620 AM (Radio). Puck drop is scheduled for 7 pm MST.
