Yotes Notes: Mullett Magic Returns & Goalie Tandem Shines

As if there were any doubt – Mullett Magic is back in The Valley.

The Arizona Coyotes returned from a four-game season-opening road trip to open up their 2023-24 home schedule against the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday, putting on a show for their hometown fans en route to a 2-1 win.

The Coyotes won their home opener for the first time since the 2015-16 season, and coincidentally are off to their best start through five games since that same year. Contributions are coming from up-and-down the lineup, but a huge reason for their success to this point is the goalie tandem of Karel Vejmelka and Connor Ingram, who have alternated starts.

“Veggie” is 2-1-0 with a 1.65 goals-against average and .951 save percentage in three starts, and has now played 105 games over three seasons in Arizona. Ingram, meanwhile, is starting his second full season of NHL play, and is 1-1-0 with a 2.02 GAA and .926 SV%.

Forwards Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz have picked up right where they left off a season ago, as they are tied for the team-lead with six points each. Keller has three goals and three assists over five games, while Schmaltz has chipped in two goals and four assists.

Arizona will face off against Los Angeles twice this week – a familiar foe considering the two teams played each other in Melbourne, Australia in September. More on that later.

On to the Show!

The Week in Review

Monday, Oct. 16 | at New York Rangers | 2-1 Loss
Stats | The Wrap

The Rangers’ home opener at Madison Square Garden was a tough test for the Coyotes, but they stayed within striking distance all game en route to the 2-1 loss in New York. Keller scored and Ingram made 26 stops, but Arizona was unable to pot the equalizer behind Igor Shesterkin’s 26 save-effort.

The Coyotes and Rangers will face each other once more this season, at Mullett Arena on March 30.

Tuesday, Oct. 17 | at New York Islanders | 1-0 Loss
Stats | The Wrap

Arizona faced its second Vezina-worthy candidate in as many nights, dropping a close 1-0 game in Long Island. Vejmelka sparkled throughout the night, stopping 33 of the 34 shots he faced, but the Coyotes managed just 14 shots on Ilya Sorokin, who came away with his 17th career shutout. The 28-year-old netminder finished second in Vezina Trophy voting last season.

Mathew Barzal’s goal 3:47 into the second period stood as the game winner.

The two teams will face off once more this season, on Jan. 4 at Mullett Arena. 

Thursday, Oct. 19 | at St. Louis Blues | 6-2 Win
Stats | The Wrap

Arizona ended its opening-season road trip just as it began: with a win. The Coyotes bounced back in a huge way at Enterprise Center, outshooting the Blues 42-26 while also receiving stellar goaltending from Ingram.

Six different players scored for Arizona while five finished with two points, and the Coyotes never trailed in the game. Keller’s homecoming couldn’t have gone much better considering he, Nick Schmaltz, and Sean Durzi each finished with a goal and an assist.

The Central Division rivals still have three additional matchups against each other this season: Nov. 9 at Enterprise Center, and Nov. 22 and Dec. 2 at Mullett Arena.

Saturday, Oct. 21 | vs. Anaheim Ducks | 2-1 Win
Stats | The Wrap

Arizona opened Mullett Arena in style, earning a 2-1 win against the Ducks behind goals from Jason Zucker and – who else – Keller. Anaheim’s Frank Vatrano pulled Anaheim to within a goal midway through the third period, but Vejmelka shut the door with a 32-save performance to earn his second win of the season.

The Coyotes and Ducks play twice more this season – Nov. 1 and Dec. 29 at Honda Center in Anaheim.

Down on the Farm

Tucson Roadrunners (2-1-0, 5th place in the Pacific Division)
•    0-1-0 Last Week
•    Oct. 21: 4-0 Loss to Coachella Valley Firebirds

Coachella Valley spoiled Tucson’s home opener at the Tucson Convention Center, as the Roadrunners didn’t find the back of the net in the 4-0 loss on Saturday. Goalie Matt Villalta shined nonetheless, turning aside 23 of 27 shots in the loss. The 24-year-old has started all three games in Tucson this season, posting a 2.03 GAA and .934 SV% over that span.

Team Leaders
•    Points: Jenik (3)
•    Goals: Jenik, Guenther, Doan, Kelemen, Szuber (1)
•    Assists: Jenik (1)
•    GAA: Villalta (2.03)
•    SV%: Villalta (.934)

The Sweet Spot

Oct. 21: Keller scores on a perfectly placed shot during a delayed penalty – a goal that ultimately proved to be the game-winner over the Ducks on Saturday.

Bear’s Necessities

"It was a tough road trip against really good opponents. .500, we'll take that. If you look at the first three games, they were all one-shot games. We could have had more than four points on that trip, so it will be important for us to regroup and be ready for the home opener." – André Tourigny following Arizona’s 6-2 win over the St. Louis Blues last week.

What to Watch For

Tuesday, Oct. 24 | at L.A. Kings | 7:30 pm MST
Arizona and Los Angeles meet up yet again following their two games in Melbourne, Australia, as part of the NHL’s Global Series. The teams split their matchups Down Under, and both are off to solid starts to the season.

The Kings have found the back of the net frequently early this season, and are currently tied for third with 4.20 goals per game. Conversely, they have allowed the 23rd-most goals per game (3.60) behind goalies Cam Talbot and Pheonix Copley, who are 2-2-0 and 0-0-1, respectively. Talbot  has posted a 3.03 GAA and .900 SV% in four games, while Copley has a 4.66 GAA and .737 SV% in one start.

Forward Kevin Fiala has seven points – all assists – to lead the way for the Kings, while Trevor Moore’s four goals are tops. In all, L.A. brings a balanced scoring attack, with six players currently at four-or-more points on the year.

Ingram is expected to make the start for Arizona, and the 26-year-old is 1-1-0 with a 2.02 GAA and .926 SV% this season.

TV: Scripps Sports (Antenna: 15.2 Phoenix, 9.2 Tucson | Cable: Cox 95 Phoenix, Cox 85/Comcast 1179 Tucson) | Radio: ESPN 620 AM | Audio Stream: Arizona Coyotes App; Arizona Sports App

Friday, Oct. 27 | vs. L.A. Kings | 7 pm MST
Neither the Coyotes nor the Kings have any games in between their meeting at Crypto.com Arena, so the two meet again on Friday in what's essentially a home-and-home set, this time in Tempe. 

Arizona and L.A. will meet once more this season, on Nov. 20 at Mullett Arena. The Coyotes were 1-1-1 against the Kings last season.

TV: Scripps Sports (Antenna: 15.2 Phoenix, 9.2 Tucson | Cable: Cox 95 Phoenix, Cox 85/Comcast 1179 Tucson) | Radio: Arizona Sports 98.7 FM | Audio Stream: Arizona Coyotes App; Arizona Sports App