It was a pretty crazy game last night in Las Vegas.
Jackob Chychrun made his season debut and scored. Scott Wedgewood made 42 saves. The game went to OT - it was a fun night, for sure.
But of course the Coyotes lost. They always do!
The Coyotes lost for the fourth time in a row, in the same year, against an expansion team, which must set some kind of dubious and hilarious record.
If not, I would hate to have been on that other team. Either way, the Coyotes are slowly but surely turning their season around, although it might not really look like it if you're not paying close attention.
Wedgewood has been stellar subbing for Raanta, but Raanta is clearly needed. He should be back soon.
It's easy to make jokes about losing for the fourth time to Vegas, but really, the Coyotes took three out of four points in a back-to-back where they were missing their starting goalie and their second best defenseman.
Chychrun was third on the team with 21 minutes.
As for Dylan Strome, the coach played him less than he played Zack Rinaldo. If I was the GM I would be going absolutely apoplectic over this nonsense.
Rindaldo has a career high of THREE goals. He has a 46% Corsi and 3 points in 25 games this year. He is 27 and has no future as a member of the Coyotes. The Coyotes have a zero percent chance of making the Playoffs this year. Ergo, it would make sense to develop your franchises most important player by giving him more than just fourth line ice time.
But that's just me. I am sure there is a perfectly good reason why the Coyotes dress Zack Rinaldo, I just don't know what it is.
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The Coyotes have recalled Kyle Capobianco from the AHL. He is nearly at a point per game in the AHL and is a left shootin gdefenseman. He was a third rounder in 2015.
In a corresponding move, they put Joel Hanley on waivers.
Also, in a probably unrelated move, they signed recent first round pick Pierre-Oliver Joseph to an entry-level deal.
Both Capobianco and Joseph are good prospects. Add them to OEL, Demers and Chychrun, and the Coyotes should be good on the blueline for years to come.
stats from naturalstattrick.com