McBain scores 2 late goals, Coyotes top Maple Leafs 6-3
By Jack Magruder, The Associated Press on December 29, 2022.
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) – Jack McBain scored two late goals, and the Arizona Coyotes beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-3 on Thursday night for their third straight win. McBain broke a tie when he converted a cross-ice feed from Lawson Crouse with 6:17 remaining. McBain and Barrett Hayton scored into an open net in the final moments as the Coyotes became the first team to beat Toronto (22-8-6) twice this season. The Coyotes are 6-1-1 at 5,000-seat Mullett Arena since returning from a 14-game, 33-day road trip. They have defeated Boston, Colorado and the Maple Leafs at home this season. Nick Bjugstad, Jakob Chychrun and J.J. Moser also scored, and Karel Vejmelka had 29 saves for the Coyotes. Pontus Holmberg, Calle Jarnkrok and Alexander Kerfoot scored for the Maple Leafs, who had won three in a row. Jarnkrok has scored in three straight. Matt Murray made 21 saves. Bjugstad gave the Coyotes an early lead when poked a puck free along the side boards and skated in alone on Murray after Leafs defensemen Mark Giordano and Justin Holl collided just inside the blue line. Bjugstad’s goal at 46 seconds was one of two Coyotes shots in the first period. Holmberg and Jarnkrok scored on the Leafs’ two power-play chances midway through the first, both on passes from Conor Timmins. Chychrun tied it at 2 on a power play in the second period. The Coyotes won the draw in their end and Chychrun knocked in a rebound of Nick Ritchie’s quick wrist shot. Kerfoot put the Leafs ahead 3-2 when he redirected Mark Giordano’s shot from the blue line at 11:19. Moser tied it five minutes into the third with one second remaining on a penalty on Timmins, who gave the puck away in his own end and was called for high sticking while trying to get it back. WORTH NOTING Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Reilly had an assist in his return after missing 15 games with a lower body injury. … Forward Dryden Hunt made his Leafs debut after being acquired from St. Louis on Dec. 19. … Leafs defenseman Rasmus Sandin (neck) hissed his third straight game. He is practicing but is not ready to return. … Coyotes forward Liam O’Brien (upper body) missed his sixth straight game. The Coyotes dressed 11 forwards. “¦ Actor Vance Vaughn and 23-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps attended. UP NEXT Maple Leafs: At Colorado on Saturday. Coyotes: At Tampa Bay on Saturday. ___ AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports 18-17
