Coyotes down Oilers in likely Arizona send-off

Field Level Media|published: Thu 18th April, 24:51 2024

Apr 17, 2024; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) moves the puck against Arizona Coyotes center Alex Kerfoot (15) during the second period at Mullett Arena. credits: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Dylan Guenther scored once and added an assist to end the Coyotes' season, and likely the franchise's time in Arizona, with a 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday in Tempe, Ariz.

Liam O'Brien, Matias Maccelli, Lawson Crouse and Sean Durzi also scored for the Coyotes (36-41-5, 77 points), who are expected to relocate to Salt Lake City. Goaltender Connor Ingram made 28 saves.

Sam Carrick and Warren Foegele had the goals for the Oilers (49-26-6, 104 points), and goaltender Calvin Pickard stopped 19 shots. The Oilers are 1-2-1 in their past four games.

Edmonton, which will conclude the regular season on Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche in Denver, will finish second in the Pacific Division and have home-ice advantage against either the Vegas Golden Knights or the Los Angeles Kings in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

O'Brien's fifth goal of the season opened the scoring 2:18 into the clash. A dumped-in puck ricocheted off an official and right to O'Brien as he cut to the net for the golden chance.

Carrick replied at 13:06 of the first period, deflecting Mattias Ekholm's shot-pass for his 10th goal of the season.

Maccelli restored Arizona's lead at 15:05 of the second period when he was sprung on a breakaway and neatly lifted a backhanded shot for his 17th of the campaign.

Crouse extended the lead to 3-1 at 4:55 of the third period. Crouse was sprung by a pass from Vladislav Kolyachonok as he headed to the net, and he converted a backhand shot for his 23rd of the season.

Foegele reached the 20-goal mark for the first time in his seven-year career to again make it a one-goal game with 11:59 remaining in regulation, burying a top-shelf effort from the slot.

However, Guenther provided Arizona another two-goal lead with a power-play maker. He unleashed a perfect shot from the slot with 5:33 to go, giving him 18 goals in only 45 games this season.

Durzi's empty-net goal with 4:15 to go iced the game for the Coyotes, who relocated to the desert from Winnipeg in 1996.

—Field Level Media

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