Coyotes cruise by Senators for fourth straight win

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Alex Galchenyuk, Brad Richardson and Derek Stepan scored in the first period, and the Arizona Coyotes defeated the Ottawa Senators 5-1 at Gila River Arena on Tuesday for their fourth consecutive victory.

Ottawa goaltender Mike Condon was pulled after Stepan's clearing attempt from the Arizona blue line went between his pads for a shorthanded goal to make it 3-0 at 15:30.
Antti Raanta made 25 saves for the Coyotes (6-5-0), who have outscored their opponents 20-4 during their winning streak and 27-10 in their past six games (5-1-0) after being shut out three times in losing four of their first five.
WATCH: [All Senators vs. Coyotes highlights]
"I didn't feel panic in the guys, the goaltenders were playing great, we just weren't scoring (early in the season)," coach Rick Tocchet said. "Guys stuck with it and practiced hard, and the goals started to come. We've got a good mojo going now, and we don't want to wreck it."
Alex Formenton scored his first NHL goal for the Senators (4-5-2), who have lost four games in a row. Condon made eight saves, and Craig Anderson made 22 in relief.
"Tough start by us, and we couldn't find a way to claw back in the game," forward Chris Tierney said. "We've got to come for a full 60 (minutes). We've played in spurts for 10 minutes, but you're not going to win in the League if you don't play for a full 60."
Stepan's shorthanded goal was the fifth in three games for the Coyotes, who lead the NHL with six. They're the only NHL team with more shorthanded goals than power-play goals-against (three).

"I'm sure [Condon] will tell you himself that he wants that one back," Ottawa forward Bobby Ryan said. "It's a tough bounce and it gets away from him."
Galchenyuk scored his first goal for the Coyotes at 4:09 of the first, taking the puck away from Senators forward Mark Stone in front of the net and putting it inside the near post for a 1-0 lead.

Richardson took Michael Grabner's one-handed pass from behind the net and deflected it off the left post and past Condon to make it 2-0 at 6:33.
A shot that appeared to deflect off the elbow of Tierney's raised right arm past Raanta one minute into the second period was waved off after the officials huddled, but it was ruled a good goal by the Situation Room after video review. However, Arizona coach Rick Tocchet then challenged for goaltender interference by Tierney, and the goal was overturned.
Formenton got the Senators to within 3-1 at 8:20 of the second period when he deflected Chris Wideman's wrist shot from the right point. Tocchet challenged for goaltender interference by Ryan, but the goal was upheld by video review.

"He didn't even know (after the game) that he scored," Tierney said. "I feel bad because we don't even have a puck for him."
Richard Panik scored his second goal in as many games to make it 4-1 at 8:42 of the second.
Arizona had its best record in October since going 9-3-2 in 2013-14. Last season, the Coyotes lost their first 11 games and ended October 1-11-1.
"It's not fun to be out of the playoffs like we were last year in October," said captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who scored his first goal of the season, on the power play, to make it 5-1 at 10:25 of the third period. "It means a lot to us to get a good start and feel like we have a chance to beat every team in the League. We're playing good and building our game."

They said it

"That was our first stinker, and it was a stinker all right. We got outcompeted in the first period, and that doesn't usually happen. I thought our compete level wasn't there at all in the first period. … Yeah, a stinker from beginning to the end for different reasons."-- Senators coach Guy Boucher
"When we're sticking with our game plan and everybody's dialed in, we're a really good team. Everybody's blocking shots and turning away rebounds, and as a goalie, it's a dream to play behind that team." -- Coyotes goaltender Antti Raanta

Need to know

The Senators were 0-for-4 on the power play. … Coyotes defenseman Kevin Connauton did not play because of an illness. … Arizona is 3-0-0 against Ottawa the past two seasons. … The Coyotes are 3-0-0 on their five-game homestand. … It was Condon's second start of the season and first since Oct. 8. He has allowed eight goals on 40 shots. … It is the second time in Coyotes/Winnipeg Jets history that the team has scored at least one shorthanded goal in three consecutive games (March 23-29, 1985).

What's next

Senators: Host the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday (7:30 p.m. ET; RDS2, TSN5, MSG-B, NHL.TV)
Coyotes: Host the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday (10 p.m. ET; FS-A PLUS, FS-CR, NHL.TV)