National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Arizona 3, Toronto 1
When: 7:30 PM ET, Thursday, January 29, 2015
Where: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Referees: Francis Charron, Chris Rooney
Linesmen: Mike Cvik, Ryan Galloway
Attendance: 18837

Coyotes 3, Maple Leafs 1: Martin Hanzal scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period as visiting Arizona snapped its season-high seven-game winless streak (0-5-2) and extended Toronto's skid to eight contests (0-7-1).

Sam Gagner collected a power-play goal and an assist while All-Star defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored from his own blue line for the Coyotes, who posted their eighth win in the last 10 meetings with the Maple Leafs. Mike Smith turned aside 24 shots to record his first victory since a 4-1 triumph over Winnipeg on Jan. 8.

All-Star Phil Kessel scored to reach the 20-goal plateau for the seventh consecutive season for Toronto, which has dropped 11 of its last 12 and fell to 3-15-1 in its last 19 contests. James van Riemsdyk and defenseman Morgan Rielly each notched an assist while Jonathan Bernier finished with 42 saves in falling to 3-1-0 lifetime versus Arizona.

Hanzal scored from along the end line as the puck squeezed under Bernier's arm at 3:47 of the third to give the Coyotes a 2-1 lead. Arizona provided insurance with 3 1/2 minutes remaining as defenseman Keith Yandle's point shot deflected off the stick of Gagner before appearing to carom off the right foot of Hanzal in front of the net.

Van Riemsdyk slid a nifty pass from just above the left faceoff circle into the slot for Kessel, who wired a shot that trickled between the pads of Smith with 3:27 remaining in the first period to open the scoring. Arizona answered in unconventional fashion as Ekman-Larsson golfed a shot from approximately 115 feet away that dipped just inside the right post five seconds into the third.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Kessel's goal was his first in eight games and first at even strength since Dec. 16. ... Veteran C Antoine Vermette won 15-of-20 faceoffs while playing in his 800th career game - and 200th with the Coyotes. ... Arizona's Brendan Shinnimin was inserted into the lineup in place of fellow C Joe Vitale, who was nursing an upper-body injury.
Top Game Performances
 
Arizona   Toronto
Sam Gagner 2 Points Phil Kessel 1
Sam Gagner 1 Goals Phil Kessel 1
Sam Gagner 1 Assists Morgan Rielly 1
Sam Gagner 1 Power Play Goals N/A
Oliver Ekman-Larsson 1 Short Handed Goals N/A
Mike Smith .960 Save Percentage Jonathan Bernier .933
Mike Smith 24 Saves Jonathan Bernier 42
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Arizona 45 3 1-4 3-3 6 37
Toronto 25 1 0-3 3-4 8 24
Upcoming Games
  • Toronto will play their next game on the road against Philadelphia. The Maple Leafs have a W/L % of .522 after a win and .370 after a loss.
  • Arizona will play their next game on the road against Ottawa. The Coyotes have a W/L % of .375 after a win and .344 after a loss.