The Wrap: Coyotes Drop Final Game of Road Trip to Avalanche

STATS
Clayton Keller scored to extend his point streak and Karel Vejmelka made 28 saves, but the Arizona Coyotes dropped the final game of their three-game road trip 3-1 to the Colorado Avalanche on Friday.
Nathan Mackinnon, Cale Makar, and J.T. Compher scored for the Avs, who have won seven of their last eight games. Alexandar Georgiev made 17 saves to earn his 33rd win of the season.
The Coyotes have just two games on the road remaining this season -- both in Seattle -- and just finished a three-game stretch against the Avalanche, Edmonton Oilers, and Winnipeg Jets, who are all currently in the playoff picture.

"Impressed by the effort," head coach André Tourigny said. "It's a tough schedule, the guys never quit, they stayed with it. Ton of respect for the way they compete."
MacKinnon opened the scoring at 12:52 of the first period with a power-play goal, but Keller responded with just over a minute left in the opening frame to tie the game after a perfect pass from Nick Schmaltz led to a partial breakaway.
The 24-year-old Keller has now recorded a point in a career-best 11 straight games, which is also tied with Shane Doan (2008) and Jeremy Roenick (1999) for the longest streak in Coyotes franchise history, since the 1996-97 season.

Nick Schmaltz assisted on the goal, marking his fourth-career 30-assist season.
Vejmelka stood tall through much of the game, making multiple breakaway stops to help keep the game tied until the third period. The 26-year-old goalie has been rock solid for the Coyotes all season.
"They had a few chances, and Veggie came up big," Tourigny said. "He kept us in the game, kept us alive, and allowed us to believe and to keep pushing."
Makar put the Avs back in front at 6:41 of the third before Compher added an insurance goal while on the power play.
"It's a good learning curve," Tourigny said. "It's a good learning process. Everyone in the league has a tough stretch, and you need to maintain your performance, which we do."
Arizona is back in action on Sunday afternoon, again against the Avalanche, and the game will be broadcast on Bally Sports Arizona (TV), NHL Network (National Broadcast), and ESPN 620 AM (Radio). Puck drop is scheduled for 12:00 pm MST.