In St Paul Tuesday, Michael Grabner scored in the third period and Josh Archibald struck for two goals in the final frame to rally the Arizona Coyotes past the Minnesota Wild, 4-3.
“We know what we’re capable of,” Archibald said. “And just for us to go out there and actually do it, it’s a good feeling for us moving forward.”
Arizona improved to 10-11-2.
- Michael Grabner had a goal in the third period for Arizona – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
“The first two periods, you guys saw it, it wasn’t good,” Arizona head coach Rick Tocchet said. “We were slapping the puck around. … We started to buckle down in the third, short shifts, made some plays. Obviously, [Archibald, Crouse and Nick Cousins] I thought were fabulous tonight for us, even when we weren’t playing well. The first two [periods], they were our best line. And then we got some momentum and played the right way.”
Antti Raanta got the start for Arizona and made 17 saves; he did not return to the game after the second intermission. He left the match with a reported lower body injury.
Adin Hill was in the Coyotes’ net for the third period and made five saves.
Charlie Coyle, Zach Parise and Jason Zucker had the Wild goals who were in control after 40 minutes with a 3-1 lead.
“I think [Arizona] got that goal in the third and they looked around and said, ‘Holy crap, we’re in the game! Let’s win it,'” Wild head coach Bruce Boudreau said. “Because they hadn’t been in a game in a long time, so they picked it up, they were playing for their young goalie, and we stood around and did nothing.”
Lawson Crouse also scored for the Coyotes.
[WATCH: All Coyotes vs. Wild highlights]
Devan Dubnyk made 10 saves as the Wild were not sitting back during the game and pressured the Coyotes with a forecheck.
“We keep playing down to the level of competition that comes into this building. It’s getting to be embarrassing to set yourself up really good for the third and they have no momentum and yet we just seem like it’s a joke and let teams come back in,” Marcus Folignosaid. “That’s on us. That’s a mental thing here. It’s not that we’re a bad hockey team. We’re a good hockey team. We’ve got to play great though.”
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