The Wrap: Ingram Shines in First Career Shutout as Coyotes Top Lightning

STATS
Wednesday's game was Star Wars night at Mullett Arena, and goalie Connor Ingram played right along.
Indeed, the force was with him.
Ingram made 47 saves in his first career shutout, and both Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz scored in the ensuing shootout, as the Arizona Coyotes topped the Tampa Bay Lightning 1-0 on Wednesday.
Lightning goalie Brian Elliott earned a shutout of his own after stopping all 26 shots he faced, but Arizona emerged victorious after Ingram stopped two of Tampa's three shootout attempts.

The Coyotes are now 4-0-3 over their last seven games, led by stellar goaltending, strong special teams play, and strong defense. The seven-game point streak is the second-longest in the NHL, behind only the New York Rangers, who also won on Wednesday.
Ingram stole the show on Wednesday, though, as he's been doing for quite some time. Arizona has recorded four of a possible six points over his last three starts - a span where the 25-year-old has posted a save percentage of .956.

He made at least 40 saves in each of those games, and his 47-save effort against the Lightning was the second-most saves ever made by a goalie in a shutout in Coyotes/Jets history. Mike Smith's 54-save effort on April 3, 2012 against the Columbus Blue Jackets is tops on that list.
Ingram now holds the NHL record for the most-ever saves for a first-career shutout, usurping Karel Vejmelka's mark of 46 that was set last season.
"He was unbelievable," Coyotes forward Clayton Keller said. "He works super hard, and we always make him take breakaways after practice and give him a hard time, so it's great to see him play such an unbelievable game tonight."
Ingram, who was claimed off waivers by general manager Bill Armstrong this past October, has truly settled into his role since arriving at the beginning of the season. He had just three starts, all with the Nashville Predators, before arriving in Arizona.
He won only one of his first nine games with the Coyotes, but has come on strong since, posting just one game with a save percentage below .903 over his last nine.
"He gets better every day, he's fun to be around, and he's fun to coach," Tourigny said. "He's receptive when you talk to him, and he's getting better."

Wednesday's win was a meaningful one for Arizona's netminder, who admitted thoughts of a shutout crept into his mind long before the final horn.
"Especially near the end of the game, you start thinking about it," Ingram said. "How many kids can say they had a shutout in the NHL? It's a lifelong dream."
The Coyotes' penalty kill has been another strength during their recent point streak. The team has allowed just one power-play goal over its last seven games, killing off 27 of the last 28 penalties they have taken.
Arizona killed off all five of Tampa Bay's power-play opportunities on Wednesday.
"Good sticks are the key to a good PK, and I think our goaltenders have done a great job as well," Keller said. "When we make mistakes they seem to be making the saves right now, so we just want to continue to be good in that aspect of the game."
Ingram, who earned the shutout against the team that drafted him in 2016, credited his teammates for helping him have a clear view of nearly every shot he faced on Wednesday.

"I don't think there's anything today that I didn't see," he said. "In the NHL with guys these good, if you see it you have a good chance of getting in front of it, and I think that's the thing, our D did a great job keeping guys away from the front of our net and that makes our job a lot easier."
Arizona's tandem of Ingram and Vejmelka has been one of the most effective duos in the league as of late, and Tourigny said it's meaningful to know that no matter who gets the nod on a given night, the Coyotes will be in a position to compete for a win.
Tough decisions aside, he wouldn't have it any other way.
"It's a good problem to have, having two good goalies who stop the puck," Tourigny said. "When you don't ask yourself this question, you either have a superstar, or you have a problem, and that's not our case."
The Coyotes travel to Los Angeles to face the Kings on Saturday, and the game will be broadcast on Bally Sports Arizona (TV) and Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (Radio). Puck drop is scheduled for 8:30 pm MST.