GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) - For 56 minutes, the Arizona Coyotes were in control defensively against the playoff-contending Dallas Stars. That situation changed quickly, but the Coyotes held on.
Alex Galchenyuk scored twice and assisted on another goal, and Darcy Kuemper stopped 33 shots to help the Coyotes beat the Stars 3-2 on Saturday.
The Coyotes ended a five-game losing streak and kept pace in the battle for a Western Conference wild card spot, while the Stars lost for the second time in seven games and ended a six-game points streak.
Arizona also ended a nine-game losing streak overall to the Stars with its first win since March of 2016.
“We lost a game like that last time in Dallas,” Galchenyuk said. “Guys in the end made a lot of great blocks, and we’re happy we got the win.”
Alex Goligoski also scored for Arizona. His goal came on a power play in the first period, at 8:49, with Galchenyuk earning an assist. Nick Cousins chipped in two assists.
The Stars made it close with two goals in 27 seconds late in the game. Brett Ritchie scored with 3:39 left, and Alexander Radulov made it 3-2 with 3:12 to go when he put in a shot that deflected off a Coyotes defender.
The Stars pulled goaltender Anton Khudobin with a little over a minute left, but the Coyotes survived. Khudobin had 35 saves.
“I thought they did a really good job at pressuring. I also thought we did break them down, but we just didn’t make finishing plays,” Stars coach Jim Montgomery said. “Their one-timers were right in the wheelhouse. We had opportunities for one-timers and we didn’t put it right in the wheelhouse. We were a little off with our passing execution on the power play.”
Galchenyuk also scored on a man advantage, at 15:31 of the second. The Coyotes scored two power-play goals in a game for the third time this season.
“It’s been up and down. Definitely working on finding my consistency and finding my game,” Galchenyuk said.
The Coyotes went ahead 3-0 with Galchenyuk’s second goal of the day. Nick Cousins dug a Stars turnover out off the boards behind the net and fed Clayton Keller, whose pass to an open Galchenyuk produced a quick shot past Khudobin at 3:39 of the third period.
Goligoski’s goal, his third of the season, ended a streak of four straight games without a power-play goal for the Coyotes. Jordan Oesterle was credited with an assist and has a point in four straight games, a career best.
“We felt like we were in control the entire way until the very end there,” Goligoski said. “They got a couple of bounces and made a nice play. Any way to get two points right now, so that was a big win for us.”
Galchenyuk scored his 10th and 11th goals of the season, and he has 14 points in 12 career games against the Stars. Six Coyotes players have 10 or more goals this season, with five players at 11.
“We were really decisive, and that’s what we need on the power play,” Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet said. “We had to have this win … and it was a nice win.”
NOTES: Newly acquired C Emil Pettersson, who arrived to the Coyotes on Friday in a trade with the Nashville Predators, will report to AHL Tucson. … F Lawson Crouse was called for boarding in the first period and served a 2-minute penalty. He leads Arizona with 60 penalty minutes this season. … The player Crouse hit, Dallas D Roman Polak, was evaluated for a concussion and didn’t return. D Jamie Oleksiak was cut on the arm in the game and needed stitches but returned. … G Ben Bishop missed his second straight game with an injury but is expected to be ready by Tuesday.
UP NEXT
Dallas: At Florida on Tuesday.
Arizona: At Vegas on Tuesday.
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