Wedgewood, Schmaltz lift Coyotes past Stars

GLENDALE, Ariz. --Nick Schmaltz had a goal and two assists, and Scott Wedgewood made 32 saves for the Arizona Coyotes in a 3-1 win against the Dallas Stars at Gila River Arena on Sunday.

Wedgewood was making his first start since Feb. 1.
"I thought they were getting frustrated," Schmaltz said. "They're a high-offensive team, and when you don't get a lot of good chances and you make some good saves, it gets a little frustrating."
Clayton Keller had a goal and an assist for the Coyotes (13-33-4), who had lost nine of 11, including 5-3 to the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday during which they blew a two-goal lead.
Roope Hintz scored, and Jake Oettinger made 24 saves for the Stars (27-20-2), who had won six in a row on the road.
"They coughed up a lead last night," Dallas coach Rick Bowness said. "We were putting a lot of pressure on them, and when you put a lot of pressure on them, the other team hopes their goalie makes the big saves at the right time. And [Wedgewood] did."

Lawson Crouse gave Arizona a 1-0 lead at 10:13 of the second period. Schmaltz stole the puck from Dallas defenseman Esa Lindell below the goal line and fed Crouse in front.
Hintz tied it 1-1 less than a minute later at 11:10. Miro Heiskanen's shot from along the left-wing boards deflected off Joe Pavelski's stick and Hintz's skate before then redirecting in off the skate of Coyotes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere.
"We had a lot of one and dones," Stars forward Jason Robertson said. "We weren't getting to the net. And this is hockey, sometimes goalies get hot."
Schmaltz made it 2-1 at 17:05 of the second with a wrist shot from the left circle that deflected in off the stick of Heiskanen on the power play.
The power-play goal was the Coyotes first in seven games and third in their past 18 games (3-for-50).
"I think the guys were a little bit upset about how we managed the third period last night, playing with the lead, and we wanted to learn from our mistakes," Wedgewood said. "They tied it up, but we didn't get away from our structure and took the lead back, and then shut it down."
Dallas outshot Arizona 17-5 in the third period, including two Grade-A scoring chances from Robertson.
He had an attempt at a wide-open net at 8:24 after the puck caromed to him off the end boards, but his shot from in close hit off the left post.

Robertson then took a cross-slot pass from John Klingberg in the right circle and appeared to shoot at another open net, but Wedgewood was able to scramble across the crease and make the save with 2:40 remaining.
"I was disappointed. We missed too many scoring opportunities in the third period. We could have won that game," Bowness said. "Missed an open net, we had some Grade As. We just didn't capitalize."
Keller scored his 20th of the season into an empty net at 19:25 of the third for the 3-1 final.
"It was day and night (compared to loss on Saturday)," Arizona coach Andre Tourigny said. "Our focus, our attention to details, our calm during this game was really good. I'm really happy about the way the guys responded, the way they prepared, and the way they were focused."
NOTES: The Stars were 12-1-0 against the Coyotes since the start of the 2015-16 season. … Dallas has scored two even-strength goals in its past four games. … Keller has scored 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in his past 11 games. … Forward Nick Ritchie, who was acquired by the Coyotes in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, has not yet arrived in Arizona. … Schmaltz has scored four goals in his past four games. … Coyotes forward Andrew Ladd sustained a lower-body injury during a collision with Stars forward Luke Glendening early in the first period and didn't return. Tourigny didn't have an update after the game.