The Wrap: Vejmelka Strong Between the Pipes as Arizona Grabs a Point

Final Score: Sabres 2, Coyotes 1 F/SO

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The Arizona Coyotes grabbed their first point of the 2021-22 season, and Karel Vejmelka kept the Sabres at bay throughout regulation and overtime by compiling 32 saves. The rookie netminder came to the Coyotes having played 163 games in the Czech Republic's Extraliga, but not until Saturday did he play a regular-season game on North American ice.
"It was a special day for me," said Vejmelka. "It was my first NHL game so I'm super excited to be here with these guys and this organization. It's a really special day for me."
"I think he was phenomenal. I thought he was really good. He kept us there," said head coach André Tourigny. "Like I said, when we got a little bit tired on the ice when we extended some shifts, Vejmelka came up big and made key saves."
Vejmelka rejected six shots within the game's first nine minutes, and 14 total in the opening frame.
It was Arizona that struck first with Andrew Ladd firing a shot from out front to net his first tally of the season. The goal gave the Coyotes a 1-0 lead that they took into the intermission.
"To have the feeling of scoring the goal, which for me encompases what playing hockey is all about, that feeling of putting the puck in the net for me is something I thrive on," said Ladd. "To be able to get back to this point and feel that again was a proud moment for myself.

Buffalo quickly tied things up 1:05 into the second when Cody Eakin converted on a power-play that carried over from the first period. From there, the game remained scoreless as the Yotes engaged in their first game of the year that'd require overtime.
Vejmelka turned aside the final 17 shots on goal - including a breakaway in the second period - throughout regulation and overtime, but the Yotes ultimately fell by a 2-1 ledger in the shootout.
"I think our team grew from period-to-period, game-to-game. From the first game to the second game we were a much better team," said Tourigny. "Today, during the game we got better and during the third period we found a groove and were playing well in our zone, the neutral zone, we had good o-zone possession and we had a few chances on the rush. It was probably our most complete period of the six, so we're heading in the right direction.
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The Game:
First Period (ARI 1, BUF 0):Andrew Ladd (1), assisted by Ryan Dzingel (1) and Johan Larsson (2) at 13:51.
Second Period (ARI 1, BUF 1):Cody Eakin (1), assisted by Drake Caggiula (1) and Rasmus Dahlin (1) at 1:05.
Third Period (ARI 1, BUF 1):No Scoring.
Overtime (ARI 1, BUF 1):No Scoring.
Shootout (BUF 2, ARI 1):Nick Schmaltz (First Round) scored for the Coyotes. Tage Thompson (First Round) and Arttu Ruotsaainen (Second Round - Game-Deciding Goal) scored for Buffalo.
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Statistics:
SOG: ARI - 21, BUF - 33
PP: ARI - 0/2, BUF - 1/2
Hits: ARI - 15, BUF - 15
Blocks: ARI - 10, BUF - 9
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Tourigny's Take: "We were a little bit too careful in our game, where our style is to be more the agressor and be on the puck and stuff like that. But I think that's because the guys care so much and didn't want to make a mistake. I think we got better, we had great leadership on the bench, and I think the boys did a good job to keep everyone together and stay in the game."
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Andrew Ladd said: "There's a lot of areas that we're trying to perfect to get on the same page. We play an aggressive system, so when you're playing an aggressive system everyone needs to be in unision and in sync. If not, then there's some holes. We're trying to pick that up, and we're not quite there yet, but I think the good from this game - you take the point - and we just keep building."
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Notable:
• Karel Vejmelka's 32 saves ties Marc Behrend (Feb. 27, 1984) for the fourth-highest total in an NHL debut in franchise history.
• Vejmelka is the sixth goaltender in franchise history to register 30-plus saves his NHL debut, and the second since 1996-97 (Adin Hill, 31 on Oct. 17, 2017).
• Andrew Ladd's game-opening goal was the 250th of his career and his first since March 10, 2020.
• Jakob Chychrun logged 27:30 of ice time, marking the third time since the start of last season the blueliner has exceeded 27 minutes in a game.
• Former Sabre Johan Larsson picked up a secondary assist on Ladd's goal, giving him a point in each of the Yotes' first to games.
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A Closer Look: Johan Larsson will enter Monday as the Coyotes assists (2) and points leader (2); Three players share the team-lead in goals (1).
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Coyotes Lineup:
Forwards
Eriksson - Schmaltz - Kessel
Crouse - Boyd - Keller
Ladd - Larsson - Dzingel
O'Brien - Beagle - Fischer
Defensemen
Chychrun - Stralman
Gostisbehere - Soderstrom
Lyubushkin - Timmins
Scratches
Jaškin
Provolnev
Roussel
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Roster Notes: While Karel Vejmelka made his NHL debut, Liam O'Brien and Travis Boyd both played in their inaugural Coyotes game. Alex Galchenyuk (upper-body) and Kyle Capobianco (lower-body) remain on Injured Reserve.
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What's Next: The Coyotes return to Arizona for the home opener against the St. Louis Blues on Monday (Oct. 18). Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.
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Photo of the Game: Andrew Ladd shows excitement in the first period for scoring the game's first goal. The marker was Ladd's first since March 10, 2020 after missing most of last season due to injuries.
Highlights: