Recap: Coyotes Can't Solve DeSmith, Lose to Penguins

PITTSBURGH --Seeking their first victory in more than a week, the Coyotes launched 39 shots on Penguins goalie Casey DeSmith on Saturday night at PPG Paints Arena. The undrafted netminder, who is subbing for struggling Matt Murray these days, stopped them all.
"We had some chances to score, but DeSmith made some good plays," Coyotes Head Coach Rick Tocchet said. "And obviously Sidney Crosby is Sidney Crosby. He was the difference maker. He dominated tonight and we didn't have an answer."

Crosby notched one goal and one assist, and was on the ice for all four of Pittsburgh's goals in its 4-0 win over Arizona, which dropped to 0-1-1 on its four-game road trip that continues Sunday at Washington.
The teams combined for 25 shots on goal in the first period, but DeSmith and Coyotes backup goalie Darcy Kuemper were perfect in their nets. Kuemper made 13 stops, including a dazzling glove save on a tricky back-handed shot by Crosby with 8:21 left in the first period.

Crosby got his revenge at 6:42 of the second period when he beat Kuemper with an eye-popping goal scored over Kuemper's left shoulder from a challenging angle to give Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead.
"He was coming with a lot of speed," Kuemper said. "I didn't even go down. I wasn't really over-cheating. He just made a really good shot and made me look silly."
• Trailing, 2-0, later in the second period, the Coyotes were awarded a four-minute power play after Phil Kessel hi-sticked Lawson Crouse and drew blood from his chin. Arizona put four shots on DeSmith before the man advantage was cut short with 52 seconds left when Jordan Oesterle was called for holding.
"It looked like they were a little tense on that (power play)," Tocchet said of the Coyotes. "You get one there maybe you get some juice. Didn't like that four- minute. Didn't see a lot of leading going on out there. It was discouraging for us."

• The Coyotes, who entered the game having scored a power-play goal in four consecutive games, had at least one power play in each period. They finished the game 0-for-4.
"When you get them you've got to make sure that you're real sharp and working as five-man units," said Derek Stepan, who logged 4:11 of power-play time. "Today we were a little stale and we didn't work as five-man units."

• Kuemper, who has played the past three games in place of injured starter Antti Raanta, finished with 28 saves.
"I had a good start and then they scored three in the second," Kuemper said. "That was kind of too big of a hole to come back. I don't think anyone's happy, for sure. We just have to make sure we're not getting overly frustrated and kind of use it as motivation to get back out there and have our best game tomorrow."

Kuemper is expected to be back in goal on Sunday when the Coyotes play at the Washington Capitals.
• Clayton Keller skated 19:37 and took three shots on goal in his 100th NHL game.
• Alex Goligoski missed the game because of a lower-body injury. Ilya Lyubushkin replaced him in the lineup and co-led the Coyotes with five hits. Crouse also delivered five hits.
• Stats that jump off the Event Summary: Dylan Strome won 10 of 14 face-offs, Kevin Connauton blocked four shots, and Josh Archibald skated 12:03 in his first game back in the lineup after missing two weeks because of an injury.