Recap: Dvorak, Grabner Provide Offense As 'Yotes Close Homestand With Win

GLENDALE -- Christian Dvorak and Michael Grabner scored two goals apiece, and the Coyotes beat the Los Angeles Kings, 4-2, in the finale of a seven-game homestand on Saturday night at Gila River Arena.

With the win, its eye-popping sixth on the homestand, Arizona moved to within one point of Minnesota for the second wildcard spot in the Western Conference standings, and just two points behind Dallas, which currently owns the first wildcard spot. The Coyotes have 14 games left - six at home and eight on the road - over the final four weeks of the regular season.
"That's a lot of games left," Head Coach Rick Tocchet said. "You just can not rest for one minute. You have to bounce back after a bad period, you have to bounce back after a bad loss, and you've got to stay humble after a win. Those are things good teams do, and we have those traits lately."

Darcy Kuemper made 34 saves, including 17 in the third period when the Kings, who trailed 2-1 after two periods, made a strong push to take control of the game. Rookie Carl Grundstrom notched his first NHL goal at 3:44 of the third period to tie the score 2-2.
But the Coyotes responded as Dvorak and Grabner each tallied their second goals of the game 5:06 apart. Dvorak scored his from the top of the crease, and Grabner beat Kings goalie Jack Campbell on a breakaway.
"Once they tied it up we started to push a little more, take over the game, play our game," Grabner said. "I think we let them hang around, played a little tentative at times. A team like that, that has experience like that, will make you pay eventually, and they did. I think we played a lot better once they tied it up."

Grabner scored his first goal during a Los Angeles power play in the opening period. It was his first tally since missing 41 games because of a serious eye injury, and his fifth short-handed goal of the season, which leads the NHL.
Dvorak started the scoring when he redirected a power-play shot by Jakob Chychrun past Campbell at 7:23 of the first period.
"We knew it was a huge homestand for us," Dvorak said. "We had to treat every game like a playoff game. It's huge to get 12 out of 14 points. But we can't be too high. We have to take that on the road now."

• Dvorak and Grabner, of course, just recently returned to Arizona's lineup after being sidelined because of long-term injuries.
Tocchet said he's pleased they are contributing at such a key time of the season. He also said it's nice to see them rewarded for the hard work they put in away from the team to get back into games.
"They're here at 7 a.m., skating by themselves," Tocchet said of their month-long rehab efforts. "... And this is why they did it, right, for the hope of being part of something. They're a piece of what we are doing right now. I give them a lot of credit."
Alex Goligoski agreed.
"Getting them back, especially after the injuries they had, it's been awesome," Goligoski said. "It was fun to watch them tonight."

• Despite missing 41 games, Grabner has tied Bob Corkum (1997-98) for the most short-handed goals in a season in Coyotes history.
"We'll take those goals, but the biggest thing is to kill off those two minutes and get the momentum on our side," Grabner said.
• Stats that jump off the Event Summary: Dvorak won 12 of 20 face-offs, Clayton Keller chipped in two assists, and Jordan Oesterle blocked eight shots.