TEMPE, Ariz. – Connor Ingram’s remarkable 21-save shutout was the cornerstone of the Arizona Coyotes’ much-needed 1-0 victory against the San Jose Sharks at Mullett Arena on Friday. Ending their four-game losing streak, the Coyotes leaned on Ingram’s goalkeeping prowess and a crucial second-period goal from Matias Maccelli to clinch the win.
This victory, a significant turnaround after their recent slump, highlighted the Coyotes’ resilience. Ingram’s shutout, his third of the season, places him alongside Thatcher Demko and Tristan Jarry for the most in the NHL. “With our losing streak, we wanted to break that … so it was a good bounce-back game for us,” expressed Arizona coach Andre Tourigny.
The Sharks, under the guardianship of goalie Kaapo Kahkonen’s 23 saves, saw their four-game point streak come to an abrupt end. The frustration for San Jose was compounded by two goals being overturned following successful challenges by the Coyotes. Despite this, Sharks forward Anthony Duclair acknowledged the team’s pressure on Arizona, even as they fell short in scoring.
The home game win adds to Arizona’s impressive record, now standing at 5-1-0 in their last six games at Mullett Arena. Coyotes forward Jack McBain appreciated the team’s effort in such tightly contested matches, praising Ingram’s performance and the favorable outcome of the calls.
Maccelli’s goal at 14:45 of the second period proved decisive. J.J. Moser’s shot deflected off Nick Bjugstad in the slot, falling perfectly for Maccelli who skillfully put in the rebound.
The Sharks twice believed they had equalized in the third period, only for both attempts to be nullified. William Eklund’s goal was overturned due to Luke Kunin’s interference with Ingram, and a later effort by Mikael Granlund was disallowed after a successful offside challenge against Duclair.
Sharks coach David Quinn reflected on the overturned calls and the team’s energy levels, acknowledging it wasn’t their night. “We didn’t have it. You could feel before the start of the game there wasn’t any energy in the room, but we managed to hang around,” Quinn said.
Granlund’s six-game point streak, which included 12 points, was halted by the Coyotes’ staunch defense. Duclair, his line-mate, recognized Granlund’s exceptional play and expressed a desire to contribute more in future games.
Tourigny’s successful challenges were a crucial part of the Coyotes’ strategy, his record now 3-for-3 this season. He credited video coach Hunter Cherni for his role in these decisions. “He studies all the calls in the League and what’s going on,” Tourigny said, highlighting Cherni’s competence and confidence in making the right calls.
In team updates, San Jose’s Nico Sturm missed the game due to an upper-body injury and is also set to miss the upcoming game against the Colorado Avalanche. The Sharks’ lack of power-play opportunities was notable, as this was their third game this season without a power play.
McBain’s return from injury was a positive for the Coyotes, contributing effectively in his limited playing time. Tourigny’s cautious approach with McBain, limiting his time in anticipation of the back-to-back game against the Buffalo Sabres, demonstrates the team’s strategic planning for their players’ health and performance.
This victory for the Coyotes, anchored by Ingram’s exceptional goalkeeping and Maccelli’s opportunistic scoring, serves as a testament to their ability to bounce back and secure wins in tightly contested games.
