Ingram Blanks Red Wings, Coyotes Close Out Homestand with 4-0 Win

STATS

The magic is back.

Jack McBain, Alex Kerfoot, Logan Cooley, and Nick Bjugstad scored, and the Arizona Coyotes closed out their homestand with a 4-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Friday. Connor Ingram made 28 saves to earn his 18th win of the season, tying Tristan Jarry for the league lead with six shutouts.

The Coyotes played with swagger throughout the game, earning their first win at Mullett Arena since Jan. 22. Three first period goals propelled them to an early lead, which proved to be more than enough goal support for Ingram, as well.

“It’s always key to get a good start, and we got a goal early and built off that,” Cooley said. “It was good to finally get a win on home ice, too.
 
“Solid effort from bottom to top, and it was a good game.”

Alex Lyon made 20 saves for the Red Wings, who have lost four straight games. Arizona and Detroit meet once more this season, next Thursday at Little Caesar’s Arena.

The Coyotes’ win came just hours after the NHL’s trade deadline passed, signaling the departures of defensemen Troy Stecher and Matt Dumba, as well as forward Jason Zucker. Arizona fell 6-1 to the Carolina Hurricanes a year ago in its first game after the deadline, but was ready to go from the start on Friday despite having just played the Minnesota Wild one night earlier.

What a difference a year makes.

“What you saw today is that group has grown up since last year,” head coach André Tourigny said. “They were focused on the task. They were not shaky. I will say, to be honest, probably relieved, too.”

That confidence showed just 2:35 into the game when McBain gave the Coyotes a 1-0 lead after a rebound that caromed off the boards behind the net came right to his stick, and he beat Lyon with the shot. It was McBain’s seventh goal of the season, and he now has a point in two straight games.

Kerfoot made it 2-0 at 8:05 of the first period after he redirected Juuso Välimäki’s shot from the blue line past Lyon, and Cooley made it 3-0 with a power-play goal at 17:04. Matias Maccelli earned his 100th point after earning the primary assist on the play, sending a no-look pass across the ice to Cooley, who finished the play.

“I liked the way we played with the lead,” Tourigny said. “I think they had to earn every chance they had. I think we sealed the deal pretty good.”

Bjugstad made it 4-0 8:16 into the second period, one-timing a pass from Nick Schmaltz past Lyon. That marked his second point of the game, and also the 300th of his career. That wasn’t the only milestone he celebrated, either, as he and his wife welcomed their daughter into the world just one night earlier.

“He’s such a great guy, he’s light in the room,” Tourigny said. “He’s such a good player. He’s an underrated player, in my opinion.”

The four goals were more than enough support for Ingram, who made a series of sparkling saves throughout. He earned his first win since Jan. 22 and first shutout since making 38 saves in Minnesota on Jan. 13.

“In this league it’s always nice when you can count on your goalie back there making big saves,” Cooley said. “Obviously I want to clean up some entries. He shouldn’t have to make those saves, but he’s a brick wall back there and he’s been unbelievable.”

The Coyotes are back in action on Sunday against the Blackhawks, kicking off a three-game road trip in Chicago. Puck drop is scheduled for 3 pm MST, and the game will be broadcast on Arizona 61 (TV) and ESPN 620 (Radio).