Coyotes record another shutout, this time against Sabres

Field Level Media|published: Sat 16th December, 23:35 2023

Dec 16, 2023; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Arizona Coyotes left wing Zach Sanford (12) checks Buffalo Sabres defenseman Connor Clifton (75) during the first period at Mullett Arena. credits: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Karel Vejmelka made 28 saves to help the Arizona Coyotes to a 2-0 win against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday in Tempe, Ariz.

Clayton Keller and Liam O'Brien scored for the Coyotes, who recorded their second straight shutout. Connor Ingram was in goal for a 1-0 win against the San Jose Sharks on Friday.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 20 saves for the Sabres, who have not won consecutive games since Oct. 29-Nov. 1.

Neither side generated much by way of high-danger chances in a first period that ended with shots on goal even at nine apiece.

The Sabres started to put the pressure on in the second period, with sustained offensive zone time right off the hop through the first minute.

But Arizona got a few chances of its own early, with O'Brien trying to swipe a loose puck in at the doorstep and Matias Maccelli firing a shot from the left wall, but both attempts were denied by Luukkonen.

Moments later, the Sabres came close to breaking through when Casey Mittelstadt spotted Ryan Johnson streaking into the slot for a shot, but Vejmelka got a piece of it with his stick to deflect it away.

Keller gave the Coyotes a 1-0 lead at 15:12 of the second. A Sabres pass attempt in the offensive zone missed the target and went the length of the ice to Luukkonen, who took it behind the net while his teammates changed, but the goaltender fanned on his attempt and Alex Kerfoot stole the puck and dished it to Keller for the open-net tally.

That gave the home side life. Jason Zucker was stopped on a backhand chance in front of the net with just under four minutes left in the period and less than two minutes later, Luukkonen stopped Troy Stecher on a drive to the net.

The Sabres had a pair of short-handed opportunities in the final minute of the second. Alex Tuch broke in after intercepting a pass but was stopped by Vejmelka, and then he sent the rebound to an oncoming Tage Thompson, but Vejmelka dove for the poke check.

O'Brien made it 2-0 at 9:36 of the third period. Logan Cooley intercepted a Buffalo pass attempt and sent it to O'Brien, who scored backhand glove side on a breakaway.

—Field Level Media