Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Coyotes produce three-goal first period flurry, beat Devils 4-1

Originally posted on Burn City Sports | By Alec Cipollini | Last updated 3/16/24

Nick Schmaltz scored a goal and added two assists as the Arizona Coyotes won 4-1 over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday afternoon.

Schmaltz, Clayton Keller, J.J. Moser and Logan Cooley all registered goals for the Coyotes (27-35-5). Karel Vejmelka made 37 saves in Arizona’s second consecutive victory.

Nick DeSimone was the lone goalscorer for the Devils (32-31-4) who took a hit in their playoff chase.

Off of a 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday, Arizona continued to roll the momentum from Michigan into Mullett Arena immediately after the first puck drop.

Strong Start Prevails

Moser began the scoring with a quick toe-drag into the high slot and fired a wrist shot towards the back of the net, giving the ‘Yotes a 1-0 lead.

Heading onto a power play, Keller and Schmaltz linked up on a string of passes between each other before Schmaltz spun around and found Guenther open.

All alone, Guenther picked the right corner to snipe just under the crossbar and help the Coyotes go up 2-0.

8 points in 9 games for Guenther. #HeatingUp https://t.co/7J6rJ1G5FT pic.twitter.com/9UNyMXgEUo

— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) March 16, 2024

After Lawson Crouse intercepted a pass by DeSimone, Crouse fed a trailing Cooley who ripped a shot past Kähkönen for a 3-0 Coyotes lead with 2:28 left in the first.

Allowing three goals on 15 shots, the Devils swapped goaltenders with Kähkönen being yanked for Nico Daws. Daws was perfect in relief, saving all 16 shots he faced.

Instilling a wake-up call because of an alteration in goal, New Jersey came out of the gates in the second with a boost in energy, resulting in them establishing more aggressiveness.

With a bigger sense of urgency, it led to DeSimone tapping in a pass from Curtis Lazar, making it 3-1.

The game’s flow would transition into end-to-end hockey before Keller iced a 4-1 ‘Yotes victory with an empty netter.