Yotes Notes: Comeback Coyotes, Rockin' Roadrunners & Guenther Stays Up

The Arizona Coyotes started their roadtrip in style.
The team battled back against the Washington Capitals on Saturday, rallying from a two-goal third period deficit to come away with a 3-2 win. The Coyotes have won two of their last three games, and are 2-2-1 in their last five.
There was another storyline heading into Saturday's game, as 19-year-old Dylan Guenther learned he would stay with the club for the foreseeable future. There was a chance the rookie would be sent back to the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings following nine NHL games, but he earned the opportunity to remain with the Coyotes after notching two goals and four assists in the nine games he appeared in.

With Zack Kassian out of the lineup recovering from a lower-body injury, the Coyotes recalled forward Laurent Dauphin from their AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners. The 27-year-old forward actually played 35 games with Arizona from 2015-16 through 2018-19, and started this season on fire in the AHL, where he was named the league's player of the week for Oct. 17-23.
Dauphin has five goals and three assists in the AHL this season.
Speaking of Tucson, the Roadrunners are off to a solid start, coming out of the gate with a 6-2 record. The team has won five of its last six games and is in second place in the Pacific Division, just two points behind the Ontario Reign with a game in hand.
On to the show!

The Week in Review

Tuesday, Nov. 1 | vs. Florida | 3-1 Win
STATS | THE WRAP
Karel Vejmelka shined in the Coyotes' first-ever win at Mullett Arena, making 41 saves against the 2021-22 Presidents' Trophy winners. Nick Ritchie and Lawson Crouse each scored power-play goals while Clayton Keller added an empty-netter to solidify the victory and send the crowd in Tempe into a frenzy.
The win was extra meaningful considering it was Arizona's annual Hockey Fights Cancer night. Arizona honored Vice President of Hockey Development Matt Shott, who passed away from the disease in December 2021, with both a pregame video and a commemorative puck drop.

Thursday, Nov. 3 | vs. Dallas | 7-2 LossSTATS | THE WRAP
Juuso Välimäki scored his first goal as a member of the Coyotes, and Lawson Crouse scored in his third straight game, but Arizona dropped the final game of its season-opening homestand to the Dallas Stars on Thursday. It was a tough loss for Arizona, but the team bounced back in a big way in its very next game.
Saturday, Nov. 5 | at Washington | 3-2 WinSTATS | THE WRAP
Nick Ritchie stole the show in the Coyotes' come-from-behind win in Washington on Saturday, scoring twice -- including the game-winner with 35 seconds left -- to help Arizona top the Capitals. The Coyotes scored three unanswered goals en route to their second win in three games, while Vejmelka shined again with 34 saves.
Ritchie leads the team with six goals in 11 games this season, and has 22 points in the 35 games he's played with the Coyotes dating back to last year.

Down on the Farm

Tucson Roadrunners (6-2-0, 2nd place, Pacific Division)

Team Leaders

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Atlanta Gladiators (4-3-0, 4th place, South Division)

Team Leaders

The Sweet Spot

Nov. 5: Rookie Dylan Guenther gets the news that he's staying in the NHL, as delivered by his family.

Bear's Necessities

"A lot of guys blocked shots tonight, and paid the price. Right now we all have smiles, but at the same time, I like the fact we all have smiles, but it's not like we won the Stanley Cup. The guys expect if we play with that urgency, they expect results, and that's a good sign." André Tourigny on the Coyotes' 3-1 win over the Florida Panthers.

What to Watch For

Nov. 8 at Buffalo Sabres, 5 pm MST

The Coyotes head to Buffalo on Tuesday to face the 7-5-0 Sabres, who have dropped two straight and are currently sixth in the Atlantic Division. Tage Thompson's 15 points lead the team, while Victor Olofsson has the most goals (9) and Rasmus Dahlin has the most assists (8).
Eric Comrie has started eight games for Buffalo, going 4-4-0 with a 3.39 goals-against average and .894 save percentage. Journeyman Craig Anderson, meanwhile, is 3-1-0 in four starts with a 2.25 GAA and .927 SV%.
TV: Bally Sports Arizona | Radio: ESPN 620 AM

Nov. 10 at NY Islanders, 5:30 pm MST

At the time of publishing, the Islanders had won five of six, though they still have back-to-back games against the Flames and Rangers before hosting Arizona on Thursday. They're in fourth place in the Atlantic Division at 7-5-0, led by Brock Nelson's 13 points. Anders Lee's six goals pace New York, while Mathew Barzal's 11 assists are tops.
Ilya Sorokin is 5-3-0 with a 2.12 GAA and .93 SV%, and was in net for four of the Islanders' five straight wins from Oct. 26 - Nov. 3. Semyon Varlamov is 2-2-0 with a 2.90 GAA and .909 SV%.
TV: Bally Sports Arizona | Radio: ESPN 620 AM

Nov. 12 at New Jersey Devils, 5 pm MST

The Devils are the hottest team in the NHL right now, as they are 9-1-0 in their last 10 games and have won six straight. At 9-3-0 they're currently in first place in the Metropolitan Division, led by winger Jesper Bratt, who leads the team in points (17), goals (5) and assists (12).
Vitek Vanecek is 5-1-0 with a 2.21 GAA and .908 SV%, and will likely be asked to do even more after Mackenzie Blackwood suffered an undisclosed injury on Saturday. The Devils still have games against the Flames and Senators before hosting Arizona.
TV: Bally Sports Arizona | Radio: ESPN 620 AM

Nov. 13 at New York Rangers, 5 pm MST

The Rangers beat the Coyotes 3-2 in the first meeting between the two teams back on Oct. 30, but have most recently dropped two straight (0-1-1). The blueshirts still have games against the Islanders, Red Wings, and Predators before hosting Arizona on Sunday.
Artemi Panarin leads New York with 17 points and 12 assists, while Mika Zibanejad's seven goals are the most on the team. Igor Shesterkin, who was in net the first time the teams played, is 6-1-2 with a 2.41 GAA and .916 SV%.
Backup Jaroslav Halak is 0-3-1 in four starts this season, posting a 3.48 GAA and .882 SV%.
TV: Bally Sports Arizona | Radio: TBD

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Yotes Notes: Rocking the Mullett and power play stays hot