National Hockey League
Arizona 5, Minnesota 2
When: 7:00 PM ET, Saturday, March 6, 2021
Where: Gila River Arena, Glendale, Arizona
Referees: Garrett Rank, Kyle Rehman
Linesmen: Ryan Gibbons, Trent Knorr
Attendance: 3141

Conor Garland scored the go-ahead goal to go along with an assist Saturday as the Arizona Coyotes rallied for a 5-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild at Glendale, Ariz.

Tyler Pitlick scored a pair of third-period goals to seal the victory, including one into an empty net, while Lawson Crouse and Jakob Chychrun added a goal each. Derick Brassard, Niklas Hjalmarsson and Clayton Keller each had two assists for the Coyotes.

Matt Dumba and Jordan Greenway each scored once for the Wild, who held a 2-0 lead after the first period.

Coyotes goalie Darcy Kuemper made his first start in 12 days and turned away 32 shots for the win. Cam Talbot made 26 saves on 30 shots in the Wild net.

Dumba kicked off the scoring at 14:20 of the first period when he jumped on a loose puck in the crease. The puck squirted out from underneath a sprawling Kuemper and Dumba pushed it across the line.

Just 52 seconds later, Greenway scored his second goal in two games against Arizona, snapping a wrist shot through traffic and into the top shelf over Kuemper's blocker.

The Coyotes came out with an edge in the second period. A mere 1:25 after intermission, Nick Schmaltz made a quick drop pass to Garland along the boards. Garland skated in for a shot and Crouse was there to whip the rebound past Talbot.

Talbot turned away two breakaway opportunities, including Christian Fischer's shorthanded chance midway through the frame, but the Coyotes maintained their tenacity. Arizona was rewarded at the 13:32 mark of the second period when the Coyotes put together a series of passes to open up the ice. Johan Larsson got the puck back to Chychrun who had an open shot for the tying goal.

The Coyotes kept dictating the play in the third, outshooting the Wild 10-2 through the first 10 minutes.

Garland gave the Coyotes their first lead of the game at 3:57. He was open in the slot for an easy pass out of the corner from Brassard and then fired a shot past Talbot.

Pitlick then went to work, scoring an insurance goal at 6:15, deflecting a Hjalmarsson shot from the point. He then scored into an empty net at 19:13 with Talbot on the Wild bench for the extra attacker.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Minnesota   Arizona
Matt Dumba 1 Points Tyler Pitlick 2
Matt Dumba 1 Goals Tyler Pitlick 2
Nick Bjugstad 1 Assists Derick Brassard 2
N/A Power Play Goals Conor Garland 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Cam Talbot .867 Save Percentage Darcy Kuemper .941
Cam Talbot 26 Saves Darcy Kuemper 32
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Minnesota 34 2 0-2 3-4 13 30
Arizona 31 5 1-4 2-2 9 39
Upcoming Games
  • Arizona will play their next game on the road against Colorado. The Coyotes have a W/L % of .300 after a win and .615 after a loss.
  • Minnesota will play their next game at home against Vegas. The Wild have a W/L % of .538 after a win and .625 after a loss.