The Arizona Coyotes have had one of the toughest seasons in the NHL with injuries and illness. But on Saturday night, the Coyotes got a goal from one more call-up, Christian Fischer who scored the game-winner in a 5-3 victory over the Tampa Lightning.
Mike Smith made 45 saves in win over Tampa Bay – file photo by Brent Clark
Fischer is the seventh call-up this season and was playing in Tucson for the Roadrunners of the American Hockey League.
“I didn’t think about scoring today. I just thought about playing. That was enough,” Fischer said . “When I saw it go in, I was so filled with emotion, I just threw up my hands and hugged the guys who gave the puck to me as quick as I could.”
Not lost in the win was a goal and four points from Radim Vrbata.
The win was not easy as Mike Smith needed to make 45 saves to get the win.
“There not a lot to look at [against the 6-foot-7 Bishop] and we got a couple of goals that usually doesn’t happen against him,” Vrbata said. “Our line moved the puck well and supported it, so you can keep your speed so it looks like you are playing fast. You are on the puck and you don’t have to chase it and forecheck all the time.”
The Bolts, who have lost eight of 10, got goals from Cedric Paquette, Vladislav Namestnikov and Ondrej Palat.
“It just wasn’t enough from the start of the game which is really disappointing,” Tampa’s Brian Boyle said. “We have to be great every night; good isn’t even good enough, and we were neither of those things. We had good energy, but the focus wasn’t where it needed to be and that’s a hard one to swallow.”
WATCH: All Lightning vs. Coyotes highlights
Ben Bishop got the start for Tampa Bay but was pulled in an ever-increasingly easy decision in the NHL this season.
Andrei Vasilevskiy finished the game for the Bolts and made six saves in relief.
“It’s disgraceful,” Boyle said. “We have ourselves to blame … we played a young team that we didn’t respect, they just came out and stomped us.”
Martin Hanzal, Michael Stone and Tobias Rieder also scored for the Coyotes.
The Lightning are now in last place in the Atlantic Division behind the Buffalo Sabres.
“They didn’t have many shots, but everything was Grade A [chances] and breakaways where we lost coverage, and that is unacceptable. We know our playoff lives are on the line and we can’t have efforts like this,” Tampa’s Victor Hedman said after the loss.
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