Coyotes fall to Devils, tie worst start in NHL history

NEWARK, N.J. -- The Arizona Coyotes equaled the worst start in NHL history, blowing a third-period lead and losing to the New Jersey Devils 4-3 at Prudential Center on Saturday.

The Coyotes (0-10-1) tied the record of 11 consecutive losses to start a season, set by the New York Rangers in 1943-44.
New Jersey (8-2-0) got power-play goals by Taylor Hall and Jesper Bratt in the third period to win for the fifth time in its past six games. Hall had two goals and an assist, and Bratt had a goal and two assists.
"I thought the guys played great, they deserved to win," said Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet, whose team outshot the Devils 37-25. "When things go bad, you get two calls against you in the third] and the Devils have a great power play. I thought [the Devils] were a little flat tonight but they found a way to win and we didn't.
"One of the biggest things that plagues our team is when the pressure is on, someone makes an ill-advised play."
***[WATCH: [All Coyotes vs. Devils highlights]*
Bratt scored his power play goal off a one-timer from the right circle with 4:13 left in the third period to break a 3-3 tie.
"I saw their penalty killer got a little bit extended and any time you can complete a seam pass on the power play, it's going to be a good chance," Hall said of Bratt's game-winner. "Our power play is clicking. It's a really positive thing for the skill guys to go out and feel good on the power play."
Brian Gibbons scored on a penalty shot, and Cory Schneider made 34 saves for the Devils. Schneider, who made 15 saves in the third, was activated from injured reserve in the morning and was playing his first game since Oct. 19.

"The third was probably the best I felt the whole game, so it was good to get back," Schneider said.
Christian Fischer, Brendan Perlini and Clayton Keller scored, and Louis Domingue made 21 saves for the Coyotes.
Hall scored from the left circle for his second goal of the game, beating Domingue over his catching glove 4:30 into the third period to tie it 3-3.
Keller stole the puck from Devils rookie Nico Hischier along the right boards before quickly curling down the slot and scoring against Schneider inside the left post to give the Coyotes a 3-2 lead at 15:13 of the second period.

"In the second, we were in their zone, playing our game, getting pucks deep and throwing it at the net," Keller said. "I thought we played really good, but came up short and it [stinks]. It sounds like a broken record but we just have to stay positive."
Perlini scored his first goal of the season from the slot to tie it 2-2 11:57 into the second. The goal came 48 seconds after Hall had given the Devils a 2-1 lead.
Fischer scored a power-play goal off a rebound 10:37 into the first period, marking the eighth time this season Arizona has taken a 1-0 lead. New Jersey pulled even on Gibbons' penalty shot at 11:55 of the first.

Goal of the game

Bratt's power-play goal with 4:13 left in the third period.

Save of the game

Schneider stopped Keller during an Arizona power play 11:37 into the third period.

Highlight of the game

Keller's goal at 15:13 of the second period.

They said it

"I know there were tough calls but sometimes you have to take a punch in the mouth and stay away from stuff. When things aren't going good that's what happens. You still have to man up and try to get those wins. But the guys played great; this was a tough one." -- Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet
"We knew we were going to face a real hungry team that certainly works very hard and I think plays better than what their record is right now. Sometimes it's not always going to be pretty or easy but you have to be able to find a way to get points and keep yourself in the game, battle back and find a way to have success. We were able to do that." -- Devils coach John Hynes

Need to know

The 1942-43 Rangers tied their 12th game and then lost the next three for a 15-game streak without a win to start that season. ... Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson left the game with 4:34 left in the third for concussion protocol. Tocchet said he was fine. ... The Coyotes acquired goaltender Scott Wedgewood for a fifth-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft in a trade with the Devils on Saturday. ... Devils defenseman Andy Greene was a healthy scratch to be with his wife, Rachel, who gave birth to the couple's second son Saturday morning.

What's next

Coyotes: At the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday (7 p.m. ET; NBCSP, FS-A, NHL.TV)
Devils: At the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday (10 p.m. ET; SN360, MSG+, NHL.TV)