Ryan Dzingel scored two goals, Karel Vejmelka stopped 45 shots and the Arizona Coyotes defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 Wednesday night in Glendale, Arizona.
Auston Matthews scored 14 seconds into the third period (24th) from Jake Muzzin and Michael Bunting. The goal set a franchise record for Matthews, who grew up in nearby Scottsdale — his ninth consecutive road-game goal, breaking the record previously held by Babe Dye, Frank Mahovlich and Daniel Marios.
In the first two periods, Toronto couldn’t solve Vejmelka, who stopped 35 shots before Matthews beat him above his left shoulder. It was the Maple Leafs’ first game in Arizona since November 2019.
WATCH | Dzingel leads Coyotes to victory over Maple Leafs:
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Ryan Dzingel scores both of Arizona’s goals in a 2-1 victory over Toronto. 1:00
The Coyotes scored first even though Toronto had 16 of the game’s first 18 shots. Ryan Dzingel, playing in his first game since Dec. 10, scored an unassisted goal from in front of the net
Toronto goalie Petr Mrazek had 16 saves while playing just his second game since November and his fourth of the season. He missed 20 games with a groin injury.
WATCH | Matthews sets franchise record by scoring in 9 straight road games:
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Toronto’s Auston Matthews scores in his home state of Arizona and sets a Maple Leafs’ franchise record as he scores a goal in nine consecutive games on the road. 0:57
With a COVID-19 outbreak sidelining Coyotes coach Andre Tourigny plus goalie Scott Wedgewood and defenceman Anton Stralman, Arizona recalled defencemen Victor Soderstrom and Vladislav Kolyachonok and goalie Iva Prosvetov to the taxi squad. All three call ups were in the lineup Wednesday night.
The Maple Leafs were still without forwards Pierre Engvall and Mitch Marner, also in the health and safety protocols.