PHILADELPHIA – With less than 15 seconds left in extra time, the Arizona Coyotes’ Alex Goligoski scored to defeat the Flyers, 4-3.
Arizona’s win was their first of the season after 11 straight losses.
“It just feels good to get a win,” Goligoski said.
Arizona Coyotes celebrate their first win of the season against the Philadelphia Flyers on October 30, 2017.
But this one was almost a lost effort as the Coyotes held a 3-1 lead with less than a minute to go in regulation.
Jordan Weal and Sean Couturier scored in the final minute to for the Flyers to rescue them from a certain loss.
“I wanted to stay calm,” Arizona head coach Rick Tocchet said. “Obviously, you’re upset because you can’t believe that just happened. But we still have some pretty good players for 3-on-3.”
Jordan Martinook and Christian Dvorak struck in the first period for Arizona for a 2-0 lead.
“Relief. Excitement. Happiness. You can go on and on with all the adjectives you want. Everybody is happy. It’s nice to finish a game with a smile on your face, even though we probably want to win games a little easier than that,” Martinook said.
Brendan Perlini scored early in the third to make it 3-0 before the Flyers rallied.
“The first two periods I thought were the best two periods they’ve played all year,” Tocchet said.
Couturier scored his first of the game early in the third to get the Flyers on the board.
“It’s pretty frustrating the way we lost,” Couturier said, “but at the same time, it’s a big point that we didn’t deserve at all.”
Newly acquired goalie, Scott Wedgewood, made 28 saves to get the win for the Coyotes; he was picked up on a trade with the New Jersey Devils over the weekend.
“He was solid,” Tocchet said. “He looked big in the net. That’s what I liked about him. He stopped the shots he should stop.”
[WATCH: All Coyotes vs. Flyers highlights]
Brian Elliott made 30 saves in taking the loss.
“You have got to love the way we came back. Our third period was our best period by far. We just have to play like that for 60 minutes,” the Flyers’ Claude Giroux said after the Flyers’ rally in the loss.
Winning goal during overtime slides past Goalie Brian Elliot (#37) as Center Sean Couturier (#14) of the Philadelphia Flyers looks on.
Center Jordan Weal (#40) of the Philadelphia Flyers scores with under a minute in the third period. Defenseman Travis Sanheim (#6) and Left Wing Michael Raffl (#12) of the Philadelphia Flyers look on, as do Defenseman Luke Schenn (#2) and Center Brad Richardson (#15) of the Arizona Coyotes.
Goalie Brian Elliot (#37) of the Philadelphia Flyers makes a stop on Center Derek Stepan (#21) of the Arizona Coyotes
Right Wing Jakub Voracek (#93) Left Wing Claude Giroux (#28)of the Philadelphia Flyers. Goalie Scott Wedgewood (#40) Center Christian Dvorak (#18) Defenseman Alex Goligoski (#33) of the Arizona Coyotes.
Defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson (#4) of the Arizona Coyotes. Center Scott Laughton (#21) of the Philadelphia Flyers.
Left Wing Michael Raffl (#12) of the Philadelphia Flyers. Defenseman Alex Goligoski (#33) Goalie Scott Wedgewood (#40) of the Arizona Coyotes
Center Brad Richardson (#15) of the Arizona Coyotes. Goalie Brian Elliot (#37) of the Philadelphia Flyers.
Center Jori Lehtera (#15) of the Philadelphia Flyers. Goalie Scott Wedgewood (#40) of the Arizona Coyotes
Right Wing Tobias Rieder (#8) of the Arizona Coyotes and Defenseman Brandon Manning (#23) of the Philadelphia Flyers
Center Sean Couturier (#14) of the Philadelphia Flyers and Center Christian Dvorak (#18) of the Arizona Coyotes
Goalie Brian Elliot (#37) of the Philadelphia Flyers. Left Wing Brendan Perlini (#11) of the Arizona Coyotes
Goalie Brian Elliot (#37) Center Scott Laughton (#21) of the Philadelphia Flyers. Defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson (#4) of the Arizona Coyotes
Goalie Brian Elliot and (#37) Defenseman Travis Sanheim (#6) of the Philadelphia Flyers. Center Nick Cousins (#25) of the Arizona Coyotes
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