-
Ducks center Trevor Zegras shoots on goal during the first period of the team’s NHL hockey game against the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
-
Arizona Coyotes center Nick Schmaltz (8) skates away from Anaheim Ducks center Sam Steel (23) and right-wing Carter Rowney (24) in the second period during an NHL hockey game, Monday, Feb. 22, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
-
Ducks left wing Nicolas Deslauriers (20) carries the puck between Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jordan Oesterle (82) and right wing Christian Fischer (36) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
-
Arizona Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (23) shields Anaheim Ducks left wing Max Jones from the puck in the first period during an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
-
Anaheim Ducks left wing Max Comtois (53) scores a goal as Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun (6) helps defend during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
-
Ducks left wing Max Comtois (53) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Arizona Coyotes in the first period during an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
-
Ducks left wing Max Comtois (53) celebrates after scoring a goal on Arizona Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) during the first period during an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
-
Ducks left wing Max Comtois (53) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Arizona Coyotes in the first period during an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
-
Arizona Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) makes the save in front of Anaheim Ducks left wing Max Comtois (53) in the first period during an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
-
Ducks defenseman Josh Mahura (76) celebrates with center Trevor Zegras (46) and right wing Jakob Silfverberg (33) after scoring a goal during the second period of the team’s NHL hockey game against the Arizona Coyotes, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
-
Ducks defenseman Josh Mahura (76) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Arizona Coyotes during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
-
Ducks goaltender Ryan Miller (30) makes a save under defenseman Jani Hakanpaa (28), defenseman Cam Fowler (4) and Arizona Coyotes right wing Conor Garland (83) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
-
Arizona Coyotes center Nick Schmaltz (8) skates away from Anaheim Ducks center Sam Steel (23) and right-wing Carter Rowney (24) in the second period during an NHL hockey game, Monday, Feb. 22, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
-
Anaheim Ducks defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk (22) and Anaheim Ducks center Rickard Rakell (67) vie for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
-
Anaheim Ducks goaltender Ryan Miller (30) and Arizona Coyotes right wing Phil Kessel (81) get tangled up in the second period during an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
-
Arizona Coyotes center Nick Schmaltz (8) and Anaheim Ducks left wing Max Jones chase the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
-
Arizona Coyotes right wing Conor Garland (83) shields Anaheim Ducks defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk (22) from the puck in the third period during an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
-
Arizona Coyotes right wing Phil Kessel (81) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Anaheim Ducks during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
-
Anaheim Ducks center Trevor Zegras scores a goal in the shootout of the team’s NHL hockey game against the Arizona Coyotes, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
-
Arizona Coyotes defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson (4) celebrates with goaltender Adin Hill (31) after the team’s shootout win over the Anaheim Dukcs in an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
The Ducks built a three-goal lead for goaltender Ryan Miller, then things went haywire when it mattered most on Wednesday night at Gila River Arena. Suddenly, the Ducks stopped their search for more goals and began to play too much of the game in their own end of the ice.
Soon enough, what appeared to be a comprehensive victory over the Arizona Coyotes began to take on a familiar feeling. The Coyotes got goals from Tyler Pitlick, Jakob Chychrun and Phil Kessel in the third period and rallied for a 4-3 shootout victory.
Ducks coach Dallas Eakins called his timeout to settle down his team with a little more than eight minutes left in the third. They regrouped after their lead was cut to 3-2, but they couldn’t present Miller with his 389th career win, which would tie him with Dominik Hasek for 14th on the NHL’s all-time list.
Miller made 25 saves, but couldn’t stop Conor Garland and Christian Dvorak in the shootout and the Ducks lost their second in a row to the Coyotes and their fifth straight overall. Trevor Zegras had the Ducks’ only goal in a three-round shootout.
Adin Hill, a third-period replacement for an injured Darcy Kuemper, made 14 saves.
“That’s two games in a row we let our foot off the gas,” Eakins said, referring to Monday’s 4-3 come-from-ahead loss to the Coyotes, when they squandered a 3-0 lead. “We talked after the second period about the best way to defend is to score another goal.”
Miller went into the game with a 388-283-85 record and 44 shutouts in 784 appearances with the Buffalo Sabres, St. Louis Blues, Vancouver Canucks and the Ducks. When most goalies might have retired, the 40-year-old Miller has found a home as John Gibson’s backup the past four seasons.
Gibson started five consecutive games as the Ducks dropped four in a row, so the time was probably right for Eakins to give Gibson a break and return Miller to the net for his first start since a Feb. 9 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.
In the closing seconds of the first period, Max Comtois scored his eighth goal of the season to give the Ducks a 1-0 lead. Jani Hakanpaa’s perimeter shot struck Comtois in the chest and the puck fell to his skates. Comtois, with his back to the net, smacked the puck between his legs.
Goals from Josh Mahura and Max Jones (power play) extended the Ducks’ lead to 3-0 by the end of the second period. Zegras was announced as assisting on Mahura’s goal, which would have been his first NHL point in his second game. Sam Steel was later credited with the lone assist.
Jones’ power-play strike was his second man-advantage goal in as many games and gave the Ducks their second 3-0 lead in the second period in as many games against the Coyotes.
Wednesday’s game slipped away, slowly but certainly, infuriating Jones.
“We can’t do that,” he said. “We can’t accept that. We’ve got to do our best to stay positive, but it’s tough. We’re playing the right way, but it’s just not for the full 60 minutes. We’re struggling with that. I think we need to sit and maybe reflect on it for 20 or 30 minutes.
“We can’t get complacent like that again. We sat back and watched.”
Where there’s a will, there’s a way for Max Comtois.
pic.twitter.com/glpRN99Fzg
— NHL (@NHL) February 25, 2021
Coach Dallas Eakins speaks following a frustrating Ducks shootout loss#FlyTogether I @AnaheimDucks I @AlysonLozoff pic.twitter.com/GT2zHMsenn
— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) February 25, 2021
“We’re playing the right way. It’s the full 60 minutes is something that we need to maintain and for some reason we’re just struggling with that right now.”#FlyTogether I @AnaheimDucks pic.twitter.com/ygjksMx9kt
— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) February 25, 2021
Zegras gets one in the shootout but the Ducks fall short tonight in Arizona #FlyTogether I @AnaheimDucks pic.twitter.com/8NGB1ciGYD
— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) February 25, 2021
Josh Mahura adds another one for the Ducks— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) February 25, 2021
— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) February 25, 2021
from Irvine Business Signs https://ift.tt/3knpM07
via Irvine Sign Company
from Irvine Business Signs https://ift.tt/2ZSUQeF
via Irvine Sign Company
