'Yotes Notes: Players Congratulate Sedin Twins After Loss

VANCOUVER --The Coyotes tried to spoil the going away party for the Sedin twins at Rogers Arena on Thursday night, but that task proved too challenging.
Playing their final home game before retiring from the NHL, Daniel and Henrik Sedin combined to score the game-winning goal at 2:33 of overtime to complete a furious comeback by the Canucks, who won, 4-3, after trailing 3-1 after two periods. Daniel scored the decisive goal off a pass from Henrik during a power play in the extra session.
After the goal, and Vancouver's on-ice celebration, each member of the Coyotes showed their respect for the twins by shaking their hands before leaving the ice.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Brad Richardson took it one step further by giving each twin a hug.

"Unbelievable, isn't it?" Richardson asked reporters as they questioned him about how his former teammates punctuated their home finale. "I've played in this rink in the playoffs many times and it certainly had a playoff feel. It was a pretty cool night, and I'm not surprised by the way it ended ... They were almost unstoppable."

Richardson played for Vancouver from 2013-15 and considers the Sedin twins good friends. He said he was honored to be part of their final home game.
"Great guys," Richardson said. "The most humble people you could ever want to meet, just genuine to everyone. Obviously what they did on the ice speaks for itself. It's the end of a great era and it's kind of sad."

Like the Sedins, Ekman-Larsson grew up in Sweden. They've crossed paths many times as foes on NHL ice and teammates on international ice.
"I just told them thanks for everything that you've done for hockey and thanks for being such great guys," Ekman-Larsson said regarding what was said during the hugs. "I didn't really have time to say what I want, but they know what I think of them ... It was a weird feeling, but at the same time it's a lot of fun to be a part of. Obviously, it's kind of weird to stand here and say you are happy for them, but I think we didn't play good enough to win that game, that's the bottom line, and you saw their team played for them and how much they mean to that team and organization."

• Christian Fischer, Derek Stepan and Dylan Strome scored Arizona's goals, and Darcy Kuemper made 36 saves in his final start of the season.
• Fischer notched his 15th goal on a breakaway at 3:44 of the first period. It was his second goal in two games after a 31-game goal-scoring drought.
• Stepan and Strome scored their goals 2:01 apart in the second period. Strome's goal, his third in nine games since being recalled from the American Hockey League, gave the Coyotes a 3-1 lead.
• Max Domi assisted on Strome's goal to extend his point streak to four games.
• Dakota Mermis, playing for injured Jakob Chychrun, skated 13:06 and blocked one shot in his first game since being recalled from the AHL on Wednesday. It was his eighth game in the NHL and his 200th game as a pro.
• The Coyotes failed to take a shot on goal in the third period - obviously matching a franchise record for fewest shots in a period in one game. It's happened three other times.
"The Vancouver fans were incredible tonight," Head Coach Rick Tocchet said. "It was well-deserved for those two guys (the Sedins). Classy guys. They dominated us tonight. We weren't into it, for whatever reason, but give them credit, especially that line, they played really well ... Good for them, but I'm kind of embarrassed for us because we couldn't get a shot on net. A couple guys showed up, but that was about it."

• Richardson won seven of 12 face-offs, including the historic first one of the game against pal Henrik Sedin.
"I wasn't going to let him win it, that's for sure," Richardson said with a smile. "Hank always gives me grief for how I take my draws, falling all over the puck. It was a lot of fun."