The Wrap: Coyotes Win in OT Again as Vejmelka Earns First Career Win

Final Score: Coyotes 2, Kings 1 (OT)

In almost an exact reflection of Saturday's victory over Detroit, the Arizona Coyotes staged a comeback triumph that saw the club win 2-1 in overtime over the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center. Kyle Capobianco netted the overtime game-winning goal, while goaltender Karel Vejmelka registered 37 saves to record his first career NHL win to help extend Arizona's point streak to four games (3-0-1).
"It was a tough game for everybody, but we played well for 60 minutes," said Vejmelka. "Big points for us. I believe we will play the next game the same way."
Making his first start in eight days, Vejmelka was tested in the opening period and answered the challenge. The netminder turned aside 12 Kings shots, most notably rejecting an Andreas Athanasiou breakaway attempt with a little over four minutes to go.
The Kings beat Vejmelka when Brendan Lemieux scored the game's opening goal with a shot from the hash marks. Despite the blemish, Vejmelka was sharp in the second period as well and stopped 15 shots to keep the Coyotes within one goal.
Arizona broke through early in the third period when Travis Boyd, who was in front of the Kings' crease, received a Shayne Gostisbehere pass, and redirected the puck into the back of the net. The Coyotes totaled 10 shots in the third period, and saw a flurry of chances in the final two minutes, but could not score before the end of regulation.

Vejmelka made multiple breakaway saves in overtime to allow Capobianco to register the game-winner. Despite initial confusion as to whether he scored, Capobianco fired a shot from the right face-off circle that beat Kings' goalie Jonathan Quick and put the Coyotes in the win column for the second consecutive night.

The Game:

First Period (ARI 0, LAK 0):No scoring.
Second Period (LAK 1, ARI 0): Brendan Lemieux (4), assisted by Blake Lizotte (4) at 5:38.
Third Period (ARI 1, LAK 1): Travis Boyd (3), assisted by Shayne Gostisbehere (12) and Clayton Keller (5) at 4:44.
Overtime (ARI 2, LAK 1): Kyle Capobianco (2), assisted by Clayton Keller (6) and Travis Boyd (3) at 3:24.
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Statistics:
SOG:ARI - 27, LAK - 38
PP:ARI - 0/2, LAK - 0/3
Hits: ARI - 8, LAK - 15
Blocks: ARI - 15, LAK - 8

Tourigny's Take: "[Vejmelka] deserved [the win] so much. He's been so good for us for a long time since the start of the season, but didn't get rewarded with a win. To finally get a win that way here in L.A. on the back-to-back and tough stretch, I'm really happy for him."
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Kyle Capobianco said: "I think it's the character we have in the room. We know we're not out of games, we're just sticking with our system and wearing teams down. Coming back on the third, it shows how committed we are to our system and sticking with it."
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Notable:

• Clayton Keller recorded two assists to establish a three-game point streak (1-3-4 in that span). The assist was the 130th of his career.
• Keller (72-131-203) moved up the franchise leaderboard in both career assists and points. He shares the 28th highest career mark in in assists and sole possession of 31st in points.
• Playing in his 400th career game, Shayne Gostisbehere snapped a two-game pointless skid with an assist to extend his team lead in both assists (12) and points (14).
• Jakob Chychrun recorded four shots and enters Monday first in the NHL among defensemen with 62 on the season.
• Lawson Crouse played in his 300th career game, playing 19:10 and recording three shots.
• This is the first time the Coyotes have secured at least a point in four straight games since their four-game win streak from Dec. 31, 2019 - Jan. 7, 2020.
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Coyotes Lineup:
Forwards
Keller - Hayton - Kessel
Crouse - Boyd - Galchenyuk
Roussel - Beagle - Eriksson
O'Brien - Dzingel - Fasching

Defensemen
Chychrun - Lyubushkin
Gostisbehere - Mayo
Dineen - Capobianco

Scratches
Strålman
Jenik
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Roster Notes: Head Coach André Tourigny dressed the same 20 players for the third consecutive game, but made adjustments to the first and second line combinations and gave Karel Vejmelka the start in goal. Forward Jay Beagle left the game early due to a lower-body injury.
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What's Next:The Coyotes are back at Gila River Arena for their next game when they host the Edmonton Oilers on Thanksgiving Eve (Nov. 24). Puck drop with the Oilers is scheduled for 8 p.m. and will be broadcasted on Bally Sports Arizona+ and Arizona Sports 98.7 FM radio.
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Photo of the Game:The Coyotes celebrate with Kyle Capobianco after the defenseman scored the game's overtime goal. The win was Arizona's second consecutive in overtime.

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