Arizona Coyotes defeat Florida Panthers 3–1 for first win at Mullett Arena

Mike Gould
Mike Gould
Arizona Coyotes defeat Florida Panthers 3–1 for first win at Mullett Arena
Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Bolstered by contributions from Clayton Keller, Lawson Crouse, and Karel Vejmelka, the Arizona Coyotes defeated the Florida Panthers 3–1 on Tuesday evening to pick up their first win at Mullett Arena.

Vejmelka made 41 saves, including 19 on 19 shots in the third period, to help the Coyotes snap a two-game losing skid and improve to 3–5–1 to begin the 2022–23 regular season.

Keller sealed the win with an empty-net goal late in the third period and also set up Nick Ritchie’s go-ahead goal on the power play with 11:05 remaining in regulation.

After his 2021–22 campaign ended prematurely due to a broken leg, Keller has picked right up where he left off with three goals and 10 points in his first nine games this year.

Ritchie, who Daily Faceoff spoke with over the weekend, is tied for the team lead with four goals in nine games this season. Since arriving in Arizona from the Toronto Maple Leafs in the spring, Ritchie has 14 goals and 20 points in 33 games.

After an even first period, the Panthers shot out of the gate in the middle frame and opened the scoring at the 8:24 mark. Colin White tipped a long-range shot by defenseman Josh Mahura past Vejmelka to make it 1–0 on Florida’s 18th shot of the game.

The Coyotes’ power play ranked third in the NHL at 30% entering Tuesday’s action and it continued to click against the Panthers. Former Florida prospect Lawson Crouse scored his second goal in as many games to make it 1–1, taking a feed from Matias Maccelli in the high slot and firing a shot past Spencer Knight.

Florida took over late in the third period — particularly after Ritchie’s eventual game-winning goal — but Vejmelka stood tall to guide his team to its first win at Arizona State University. The 26-year-old goaltender now has a .901 save percentage and a 2–3–1 record in six appearances this season.

Dylan Guenther, J.J. Moser, Christian Fischer, and Patrik Nemeth also picked up points for the Coyotes in the win. The ‘Yotes will wrap up their four-game homestand against the Dallas Stars on Nov. 3 before heading on the road for their next 14 contests.

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