Recap: Coyotes Can't Score vs. Sabres

GLENDALE --The Coyotes launched 36 shots on goal vs. Buffalo on Saturday night at Gila River Arena, but none of them got past backup goalie Linus Ullmark, who was making his first start of the season.
The Sabres won, 3-0, to drop Arizona's record to 1-3-0, despite the fact the Coyotes out-shot all four opponents in those games (146-93).
"I know everybody's frustrated," Head Coach Rick Tocchet said. "The coaching staff's frustrated. Everybody's frustrated we're not scoring goals. You're trying your best to figure it out, but at the end of the day, you've just got to be able to will yourself a goal."

Rasmus Dahlin, whom Buffalo selected with the first overall pick in this year's NHL Draft, pushed a loose puck past Antti Raanta at 2:45 of the first period to give the Sabres a 1-0 lead. Conor Sheary added a nifty power-play goal later in the first, and Jeff Skinner scored a breakaway goal in the third to complete the scoring for the Sabres.
"I don't think we came out the way we wanted," Coyotes captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson said. "It's kind of hard when you have to chase the game right off the hop. At the same time, we've got to get better. We've got to score more goals."
• Arizona had two solid chances to score late in the second period, but Ullmark denied shots from in close by Richard Panik and Christian Fischer.
"Even though their goalie played a great game I think we are making the goalies look really good right now," said Raanta, who stopped 20 of 23 shots. said. "I think we have to get a little bit more of the 'eye of the tiger' in front of the net and just put those pucks in."

• Ekman-Larsson took a nasty spill in the third period after being hit low by Sabres center Patrik Berglund near the top of the slot in Buffalo's zone. Ekman-Larsson remained on the ice for a few moments, but eventually got to his feet and skated to the bench. He remained in the game and finished with a game-high 25:15 of ice time.

• The Coyotes produced 30-plus shots for the fourth time in four games this season. It's the first time the franchise has accomplished that feat since 1985-86 when it was based in Winnipeg.
"I'd like to see somebody score a goal," Tocchet said. "We've had point-blank shots in the slot. You just got to keep shooting I guess. You got to work at your game. I don't have a recipe other than that."

• Stats jumping off the Event Summary: Niklas Hjalmarsson blocked six shots, Derek Stepan and Dylan Strome combined to win 24 of 39 face-offs, and Kevin Connauton took five shots on goal and delivered five hits.
• Former defenseman Zbynek Michalek, who played 612 games for the Coyotes, dropped the ceremonial first puck before the game.