Recap: Coyotes Rally in 3rd Period, Beat Canucks

GLENDALE -- Seeking a win to start a critical early-season homestand, the Coyotes scored three goals in the third period and defeated the Vancouver Canucks, 4-1, on Thursday night at Gila River Arena.
Nine Coyotes notched a point in the victory, and backup goalie Darcy Kuemper stopped 27 of 28 shots.
Tied 1-1, Clayton Keller scored the decisive goal at 3:55 of the final frame when he slid the puck between the pads of Canucks goalie Anders Nilsson. Newcomer Alex Galchenyuk set up the goal by stealing the puck deep in Vancouver's zone.

"I think coming off a road trip you want to get off to a good start," Keller said. "We were OK and we got better as the game went on. It definitely wasn't pretty, but we got the win and that's what matters most."

Brad Richardson and Lawson Crouse secured the victory by scoring short-handed goals within the final eight minutes as the Canucks, who played Wednesday night at Vegas, wilted in the third period. Crouse notched his goal into an empty net from deep inside Arizona's zone with two minutes to play.
The Coyotes upped their record to 4-5-0 after starting the season 1-4-0.
"There was urgency in that we had a chance tonight to get close to .500," Head Coach Rick Tocchet said. "Was this a must-win? In our eyes, this was a game we needed. I liked that while we were sloppy in the first two periods, our players dug in in the third period."

• Alex Goligoski gave Arizona a 1-0 lead 43 seconds into the second period when he skated the puck between the circles and backhanded it past Nilsson. The goal was the first goal scored by an Arizona defenseman this season, and the first scored by the Coyotes on home ice.
"It was good to get this one tonight," Goligoski said. "I don't think we played our best, but sometimes (it's) a tough game coming off a road trip like that. We got the win and we can regroup. We've got four more at home. We can start a run."

• Kuemper started in net for a second consecutive game in place of Antti Raanta, who is battling flu-like symptoms this week. Kuemper has thrived this season, stopping 88 of 92 shots.
"He's really confident back there," Goligoski said. "He looks big in net right now. When a goalie looks big, he's playing confident. He's been great for us."

Kuemper is leading the NHL in save percentage (.957) and goals-against average (1.34) among goalies who have started at least three games.
"It's always easier when you kind of get on a roll," Kuemper said. "It's a little bit easier to prepare and you just kind of go out there and play, but that's what I try to do every start regardless of when my last one was."

• Crouse and Canucks forward Antoine Roussel exchanged pushes and punches in the second period after Roussel yanked Keller to the ice by his head and neck. Both received 10-minute misconduct penalties. Oliver Ekman-Larsson also jumped to Keller's defense.
"It's just part of the game," Keller said. "The guy just dragged me down a bit and the guys responded … It shows what kind of guys they are, sticking up for me. I really appreciate it."
So did Tocchet.
"I'm glad (Crouse) ended up getting a goal, too," Tocchet said. "That was nice for him to get that goal and to be rewarded for getting punched in the nose. Nobody wants to get punched in the nose."

• The Coyotes scored two short-handed goals in a game for the first time since Dec. 23, 2017. They now rank second in the NHL with three short-handed goals this season. San Jose has scored four.
• Stats that jump off the Event Summary: Ekman-Larsson played a game-high 25:33 and delivered a game-high four hits, Goligoski led Arizona with five shots, and Galchenyuk's assist on Keller's goal was his first point with the Coyotes.