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Coyotes Conclude Western Canada Road Trip

By Madalyn Heimann

Jan 7, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Arizona Coyotes goalie Louis Domingue (35) celebrate win with teammates against the Calgary Flames during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Arizona Coyotes won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Arizona Coyotes goalie Louis Domingue (35) celebrate win with teammates against the Calgary Flames during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Arizona Coyotes won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /
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To begin 2016 the Arizona Coyotes headed out on the road for a three-game, five-night road trip of Western Canada. The team finished their trip Thursday with a 2-1 win in Calgary, taking five of a possible six points on the trip.

The trip started on Saturday with a 4-3 shootout loss to the Edmonton Oilers. It was a back-and-forth game that featured goals from Oilers’ second over-all pick, Jordan Eberle (10), and Coyotes’ standout Anthony Duclair (11). The Coyotes gave up a late third period goal that forced overtime, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ third round goal in the shootout gave the Oilers the extra point.

There was little rest for the Coyotes as they traveled to face division rival, Vancouver Canucks, Tuesday night. Arizona was coming into the game ahead of Vancouver for second place in the Pacific Division.

Coyotes’ captain Shane Doan (15) continued to turn-back the clock scoring two goals on the night. Doan, who leads the team in goals with 15, is playing in his 20th season and has nine goals in the past seven games. With starting goaltender Mike Smith out for extended time with an injury, the Coyotes have seen Louis Domingue develop into a solid net minder for the team. Domingue had 35 saves on the night, which allowed for the Coyotes to win a close game 3-2 over the Canucks.

After a night off, the Arizona Coyotes traveled to face a recently resurgent Calgary Flames team. Johnny Gaudreau (18) put the Flames on the board 14 minutes in, with a power play goal. Oliver Ekman-Larsson answered four minutes later on the power play with his 11th of the season, tying the score at one after the first period.

The second period was very back-and-forth, with both teams having opportunities to score but neither could capitalize. In the third, Stefan Elliot’s shot from the point was tipped in by Martin Hanza, giving him his sixth goal of the season. Domingue and the Coyote defense doused a late push by Calgary, and Arizona wrapped up their road trip with a 2-1 victory over the Flames.

With this three-game road trip the Coyotes are finally looking healthy and playing some very good hockey. The team got Hanzal back from injury on Thursday, acquired former Coyote draft pick Viktor Tikhonov in early December, and big-man John Scott heading to the All-Star game, the Coyotes seem to be trending in the right direction.

Next: Would Howie Kendrick to the Diamondback be a good move?

The Arizona Coyotes is now second in the Pacific division by three points, trailing division leading Los Angeles Kings by eight points. The team will now head back to Arizona, where they will start a seven-game home stand Saturday against the Nashville Predators.

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