Breaking a 14-game losing streak, Matias Maccelli scored a goal and posted two assists as the Arizona Coyotes defeated the Ottawa Senators 5-3 on Friday night.
Maccelli, Michael Carcone, Dylan Guenther, J.J. Moser and Nick Schmaltz all scored for the Coyotes (24-31-5).
Drake Batherson, Vladimir Tarasenko and Shane Pinto recorded the Senators’ goals 25-30-5) as they lost their third straight game. Anton Forsberg made 25 saves for Ottawa.
After Liam O’Brien tried to stuff a wraparound past Forsberg, the puck fluttered to Carcone who fired a shot at an open net to give Arizona a 1-0 lead.
Carcone would connect on a give-and-go with Guenther before Guenther found Moser open for a one-timer, making it 2-0 Coyotes.
Following two penalties by Ottawa, the ‘Yotes went on a 5-on-3 to add to their offensive barrage.
Receiving the puck in the right corner of the Sens’ zone, Maccelli targeted Schmaltz with a no-look pass across the crease and Schmaltz netted his 17th goal of the season.
Schmaltz (17)
Maccelli (31), Durzi (23) https://t.co/DZ6XmL9o8A pic.twitter.com/VkzGszImN4— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) March 2, 2024
Behind 3-0, Tarasenko answered by just finding enough room to score past Vejmelka.
The second period would see an alteration in the game’s flow as both teams locked down defensively before a surge by Ottawa.
Solving Vejmelka in the middle frame, Batherson buried a rebound and Pinto fired a shot through a screen to tie the game 3-3 in a 2:03 span.
But to disrupt the Senators’ momentum, Guenther sniped toward the top-right corner of the net, handing Arizona a 4-3 lead in a back-and-forth third period.
Maccelli capped off their first victory in 14 games with an empty net goal. Vejmelka was able to hold off the Senators with 34 saves.
Coyotes: Away vs. Washington Capitals (27-22-9) on March 3 at 11 a.m. MST
Senators: Away vs. Philadelphia Flyers (31-22-7) on March 2 at 5 p.m. MST
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