Pro Sports

Coyotes snap losing streak to Blues with 5-2 win

Posted January 21, 2018 6:00 am

By STEVE OVERBEY

Arizona Coyotes' Max Domi, top, falls over St. Louis Blues goaltender Jake Allen during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) The Associated Press

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Christian Dvorak had no idea the two goals he scored Saturday night helped the Arizona Coyotes end a long run of futility against the St. Louis Blues.

"Wow, we lost 12 in a row to them?" Dvorak said. "That makes this even better."

Dvorak sparked a four-goal first period, Antti Raanta made 25 saves and the Coyotes beat St. Louis 5-2 for their first win in the series since a 3-2 overtime triumph on Nov. 12, 2013. The 12-game skid was tied for the longest current streak of its kind in the NHL; Chicago has won 12 in a row over Buffalo.

Zac Rinaldo, Brendan Perlini and Christian Fischer also scored for Arizona, which had lost five straight overall.

Brayden Schenn and Alexander Steen scored for the Blues, who had won two straight following a seven-day break.

Raanta, who has allowed two or fewer goals in five of his last six starts, also was unaware of Arizona's losing streak to the Blues.

"It's a good thing to find that out after the game because if you know about it before, you're thinking about it during the game and that's not good," he said.

The Coyotes scored four times in the opening 13:15. Dvorak converted back-to-back goals in a span of 3:04 to chase goalie Carter Hutton, who gave up three goals on 12 shots. Perlini capped the blitz, which marked the Coyotes' highest-scoring first period of the season.

Arizona lost its previous three games in extra time and has the worst record in the NHL at 11-28-9.

"We haven't been playing bad and we haven't had much to show for it," Dvorak said. "But, I thought we outworked them early and often and got what we wanted in a tough barn."

Clayton Keller added two assists for the Coyotes, who had a season-high 44 shots on goal. Raanta improved to 7-12-5.

Arizona took control right from the opening faceoff with goals by Rinaldo and Dvorak in the opening 4:02.

"The execution was good right from the start," Fischer said. "We came out and did what we had to. Now, we've got to keep that going forward."

The Blues have lost their last two home games, including a 7-4 setback to Florida on Jan. 9.

"This was an embarrassment for us and for our fans," forward Vladimir Tarasenko said. "We have a day tomorrow to figure out what's going on."

St. Louis coach Mike Yeo was disappointed in the performance after the Blues won back-to-back games in Toronto and Ottawa earlier in the week.

"To be honest, there's no explanation for this kind of effort," Yeo said.

NOTES: Arizona D Oliver Ekman-Larsson blocked a game-high six shots. ... The Blues are 15-3-2 when one of their defensemen scores. ... Of the Coyotes' 31 points, 21 have come in overtime or a shootout. ... St. Louis has won 1,799 games in its history and is looking to become the eighth NHL franchise to reach 1,800 wins.

UP NEXT

Coyotes: Host the New York Islanders on Monday in the first of three successive home games.

Blues: Host the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday in the second of a four-game homestand.

___

More NHL hockey: https://apnews.com/tag/NHLhockey

St. Louis Blues defensemen Jay Bouwmeester, left, and Joel Edmundson pressure Arizona Coyotes left wing Brendan Perlini, center, in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018, in St. Louis. (Chris Lee/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP) The Associated Press

St. Louis Blues' Joel Edmundson (6) is checked into the boards by Arizona Coyotes' Nick Cousins (25) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) The Associated Press

Arizona Coyotes right wing Christian Fischer, top, reacts after scoring against St. Louis Blues goaltender Jake Allen, bottom, in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018, in St. Louis. (Chris Lee/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP) The Associated Press

St. Louis Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, left, competes for the puck against Arizona Coyotes center Clayton Keller in the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018, in St. Louis. (Chris Lee/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP) The Associated Press

Arizona Coyotes' Richard Panik, of Slovakia, controls the puck as St. Louis Blues' Kyle Brodziak (28) defends during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) The Associated Press

Arizona Coyotes' Christian Dvorak is surrounded by teammates after scoring past St. Louis Blues goaltender Carter Hutton, right, during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) The Associated Press

Arizona Coyotes' Brendan Perlini, right, celebrates after scoring as St. Louis Blues' Joel Edmundson, left, skates past during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) The Associated Press

Arizona Coyotes' Brendan Perlini, left, celebrates after scoring as St. Louis Blues' Brayden Schenn, right, skates past during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) The Associated Press

St. Louis Blues goaltender Carter Hutton, left, stops an attempt by Arizona Coyotes' Jordan Martinook, right, as Blues' Vince Dunn watches during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) The Associated Press

St. Louis Blues' Kyle Brodziak (28) and Arizona Coyotes' Brad Richardson (15) chase after a loose puck along the boards during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) The Associated Press

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