ST. LOUIS — Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz each had a goal and an assist, sparking the Arizona Coyotes to a 6-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night.
“I think they work extremely hard. Today, they had their execution,” Coyotes coach Andre Tourigny said about Keller and Schmaltz. “I don’t think they had that since the beginning of the season. They weren’t connecting like they did tonight. They connected and they made plays. They were good.”
Nick Bjugstad, Jason Zuker and Sean Durzi scored on the power play for the Coyotes, and Michael Carcone added a goal. The Coyotes finished their season-opening road trip 2-2-0.
“I think we’re a young team and we’re learning from our experiences” Carcone said. “To go .500 on the road and play those New York teams and St. Louis, they’re all good teams, right? So we’re finding our way and I like what I’ve seen.”
Jakub Vrana and Sammy Blais scored for St. Louis, which slipped to 1-1-1 with the regulation loss after going to shootouts in its first two games.
“It’s sloppy, it’s ugly. It’s ugly hockey. It looks lazy,” Blues defenseman Justin Faulk said. “There’s going to be nights where you’re not feeling it, but if you’re not feeling it, make the simple play and make them work for it and earn it at least. We didn’t really make them work too hard today.”
Connor Ingram was in net for the Coyotes, who have alternated goaltending duties in each game so far this season. Ingram, who had never faced the Blues, stopped 24 shots.
Arizona Coyotes’ Nick Bjugstad watches the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the St. Louis Blues Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, in St. Louis. Credit: AP/Jeff Roberson
“I didn’t have to do much today other than kill that penalty at the end of the second period,” Ingram said. “Other than that, I didn’t have to much. My job was pretty easy.”
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