Opening Night

Every opening night the Coyotes put on a show and this year they did as well. In the final 3:30 of the game, they scored two goals to force overtime. 

Overall the game looked like the first game of the season for both teams. A little rusty from the long layoff and short training camp. Some passes and plays that just didn’t connect correctly. All things that, with time, will work themselves out.

Play of the game

The play of the game came with 3.7 seconds left in the period.

Connor Garland, from below the goalline passes the puck up to Clayton Keller who shoots it at the net. Sharks goalie Martin Jones doesn’t have time to stop the puck with both Phil Kessel and Alex Goligoski in front. Kessel ended up taking two shots at the puck before it went in, making it a tie game.

Player of the game

Conor Garland was the player of the game for multiple reasons.

Garland was in on two of the goals, both of which mattered. Garland has the ability to change games in split-second moves with his hockey IQ.

Quote of the Game

Rick Tocchet after the game had this to say.

“I liked the energy tonight. The details were half decent. Obviously, we’ve got to clean up some stuff. But battling back, getting a 6-on-5 goal, killing that 4-on-3 (in overtime) is huge. We had a chance to win the game. There were some good elements where we had a chance to win the game. We didn’t. But the key is to stay positive tomorrow and have a good practice. We have the same team again. You can’t let your foot off. That’s the big thing. You’ve got to bring your energy again. We’re looking to clean up some stuff tomorrow and go right back at it with the same team.”