Kakko's two goals help Rangers rally past Coyotes

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Kaapo Kakko scored twice, and the New York Rangers used two power-play goals late in the third period to defeat the Arizona Coyotes 3-2 at Gila River Arena on Wednesday.

Kakko broke a tie from the top of the goal crease off a pass from Chris Kreider with 2:18 remaining.
Kreider had three assists, Mika Zibanejad had goal and an assist, and Keith Kinkaid made 29 saves in his first start of the season for the Rangers (19-7-3), who had lost two straight, including 4-2 at the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday.
"It just was one of those nights where you have to battle," Zibanejad said. "It might not be the prettiest, but it's two points. And that's the most important thing."

Clayton Keller had a goal and an assist, and Scott Wedgewood made 27 saves for the Coyotes (5-21-2), who lost their sixth game in a row and eighth in the past nine (1-8-0).
"I thought we played a good game, a good 60 minutes until they got those two power plays," Keller said. "I think that's how we want to play hockey games. That's why you play this game, for games like that."
Keller scored in front off Nick Schmaltz's crossing pass to give the Coyotes a 2-1 lead at 8:47 of the third.
With Phil Kessel in the box for interference, Zibanejad's power-play goal on a wrist shot from top of the left face-off circle tied it 2-2 at 14:14. Arizona then was penalized for too many men on the ice, leading to Kakko's second goal.
"It wasn't the easiest way for us," Kakko said. "We got the power play, and that was big for us. It was a big win for us."
Arizona coach Andre Tourigny said, "We fought. ... We played against a good, heavy team, and we played well. It's frustrating because at 5-on-5, we were really good. We lost the special-teams battle, we lost the game."
Loui Eriksson scored Arizona's first shorthanded goal of the season at 17:46 of the first period for a 1-0 lead. It was Eriksson's first goal since Feb. 22, 2020, with the Vancouver Canucks.
Kakko tied it 1-1 on a rebound at the side of the net at 10:40 of the second.

Forward Artemi Panarin, New York's leading scorer with 33 points (nine goals, 24 assists), left with what coach Gerard Gallant called a minor lower-body injury after playing one shift in the second period.
"Obviously he's one of our best players, if not our best player," Gallant said. "It was a tough night. Guys look tired on the bench and they were dragging their feet a little bit, but we found a way late in the game. It was a huge two points."
Kinkaid got his first win since March 22 against the Buffalo Sabres. He was in COVID-19 protocol with Hartford of the American Hockey League before being called up by New York on Dec. 9.
"It was awesome," Kinkaid said. "It had been 2 1/2 weeks since I had a game, let alone an NHL game, so I just wanted to get in (game) mode a little bit, and I think I settled down after that. At the first little bit, I had a little jitters, but overall I felt pretty calm and confident."
NOTES: Arizona forward Christian Fischer left the game in the second period with an upper-body injury. There was no update. … Coyotes defenseman J.J. Moser had one shot and played 18:56 in his NHL debut. … Schmaltz has scored 10 points (one goal, nine assists) in six career games against New York. … The Rangers are 10-1-2 against the Coyotes since March 24, 2014.