Antii Raanta makes 26 saves, Coyotes beat Ducks 2-0
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) - Two shutouts in three games is an impressive feat, but Antti Raanta was just trying to make up for letting five goals get by him two nights earlier.
He did, stopping 26 shots for his second shutout of the season in the Arizona Coyotes' 2-0 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday night.
"I didn't like at all the Thursday game," Raanta said about a loss to Calgary. "I was trying to be a little more patient today and focus on the shots and just making the first save and go from that, and it worked out really good."
Max Domi's empty-net goal sealed the win long after Jason Demers gave the Coyotes the lead less than six minutes into the game.
Arizona won for the sixth time in eight games and ended the Ducks' four-game winning streak. The Coyotes had won four straight before falling to Calgary at home.
The Coyotes scored on their fourth shot of the game, with Demers going top-shelf to put the puck past the out-of-position Ryan Miller at 5:58 of the first period. Demers scored his fifth goal of the season, and Arizona scored first for the seventh straight game.
"As a 60-minute game, that's one of our best all year," Demers said. "It's always good to see a bounce-back. Winning teams do that. After we get that first goal I think we've been able to calm our nerves better than were at the start of the year."
Miller made 36 saves in defeat.
The Coyotes failed to score on four power-play opportunities and are 0 for 13 over their last three games.
The Ducks registered only seven shots on goal in the second period. They lamented losing points to a team far out of the playoff hunt.
"We didn't play hockey," Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf said. "It's just this time a year. We've got to find a way to be excited and play hockey. We can't be showing up at the rink, throwing our skates on and expecting to win every night."
Anaheim pulled Miller in the final 90 seconds, and Domi scored with 1:01 to play for his fifth goal of the season.
Josh Archibald assisted on both goals.
Raanta reached 10 career shutouts. "When you get the first one, the second one is a little bit easier to get," he said. "Took a little time to get the first one, but I think our five-man units are really good right now and they're helping me out a lot."
Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said his team didn't play up to its capabilities.
"We charted ourselves two scoring chances in the third, that's nowhere near enough," Carlyle said.
NOTES: Newly acquired G Darcy Kuemper is expected to make his Coyotes debut Sunday in the second of back-to-back games. ... The Coyotes recalled F Laurent Dauphin from Tucson of the AHL on Saturday, but listed him as a healthy scratch. ... C Freddie Hamilton had yet to play 19 games after being claimed off waivers, but saw his first action in an Arizona uniform Saturday. ... F Richard Panik was scratched with a lower-body injury, announced just before the game. Coach Rick Tocchet said he is day to day. ... The Coyotes took the ice for warmups in co-branded jerseys bearing their own logo and that of baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks. It was Diamondbacks Night at Gila River Arena, and third baseman Jake Lamb dropped the ceremonial first puck. ... The Ducks recalled C Kalle Kossila from San Diego of the AHL on Saturday, and he was scratched. ... Two-way baseball sensation Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels attended the game hours after his spring training debut.
UP NEXT
Ducks: Host Edmonton on Sunday night.
Coyotes: Host Vancouver on Sunday night.