Coyotes 5, Blue Jackets 3
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Martin Hanzel scored two third-period goals, including the game winner, and the Phoenix Coyotes defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets, 5-3 before an announced crowd of 15,425 on Saturday night at Jobing.com Arena.
Hanzal's sixth goal of the season came on the power play with the Jackets' Fedor Tyutin off for interference at 8:18 of the third period. Taking a pass from defenseman Keith Yandle in the crease, Hanzal jammed the puck in behind goalie Steven Mason for the game-winner.
Hanzal added an empty net goal with 64 seconds to play.
Neither team played much defense in the opening minutes. As a result, the Coyotes and Jackets combined for four goals in less than six minutes.
After the Jackets' Jared Boll picked up his first goal of the season to give Columbus a 1-0 lead, the Coyotes responded with two goals within 1 minute, 30 seconds. First, Dave Moss picked up his second of the season on a rebound at 5:30, and then Radim Vrbata fired a wrist shot under the crossbar to give Phoenix a brief lead at 7:00.
Then, Matt Calvert's 16-foot wrist shot from the left face-off circle at 8:00 tied the game at 2-2. Converting a centering pass from Keith Yandle, Kyle Chipchura's first goal of the season at 17:40 pushed the Coyotes into 3-2 lead after the opening period.
The Jackets then knotted the game at 3-3 when Derek McKenzie's wrist shot from the slot eluded goalie Mike Smith. It was McKenzie's second goal and third point of the season.
NOTES: Despite being named Jackets' general manager earlier this week, Jarmo Kekalainen has yet to see Columbus play in person, As the first European GM in NHL history, Kekalainen remains in his native Finland and unable to obtain a travel visa. Because President's Day is a legal holiday Monday, the earliest Kekalainen can obtain a visa to travel to the U.S. is Tuesday or Wednesday. Columbus will next play in Anaheim on President's Day and then in Detroit this coming Thursday, likely the first chance for Kekalainen to see the Jackets. ... Columbus entered Saturday's game as the worst road team in the NHL. In its previous five games away from Nationwide Arena, the Jackets had complied two points. ... Picking up a first period assist, Phoenix defenseman Keith Yandle reached 150 in his NHL career. ... Assisting on a first period goal, Phoenix center Antoine Vermette picked up his first point in his last eight games. ... With 322 career goals, Phoenix captain Shane Doan remains one goal from tying Keith Tkachuk (323) for second on the franchise's all-time goals list behind Dale Hawerchuk (379).
