Just one minute and eight seconds separated rookie defenseman Ryker Evans from a storybook ending.
Then, the Seattle Kraken let down their guard, literally, at the front of the net.
The Coyotes, on the threshold of being shut out on their own home ice, surrounded by a sea of Kraken fans, rallied with Clayton Keller’s front-of-the-net, six-on-five, extra attacker goal which was followed by Dylan Guenther’s painful breakaway goal, helping the Coyotes rally past the Kraken, 2-1 in sudden death overtime on Friday at Mullett Arena.
“That's a game that we should have been able to close out,” said Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol.
It was the fifth extra attacker goal, against an empty net, the Kraken allowed this season, and their frustrating winless skid extended to 0-5-2. They have not won since beating Winnipeg three days before the trade deadline and have been shackled to just six goals in the last five games.
Evans broke a scoreless tie with his first career NHL goal, buriying a shot from the left circle past a fallen Karel Vejmelka.
“It was good to get the first one out of the way,” said Evans.
“(McCann) made a great pass, across.”
Ultimately, one goal left the door wide open for the Coyotes to stay in the game, tying it up as Keller drove the net, past Jamie Oleksiak, and tucked his team leading 29th goal of the season past Joey Daccord – the Arizona State alum who was on the threshold of his first career victory over the Coyotes.
“We were our own worst enemy on the tying goal,” said Hakstol. “We just misplayed it. It's a three on three – we’ve got the next two guys back. So, you know that's one that certainly that you know we'd like to play differently and that ends up in the back of our net.”
The Kraken produced open looks in the overtime period, but a bad line change opened the door for Guenther, who got behind the defense and beat Daccord with a snapshot on a breakaway with 48 seconds left in overtime.
“The place I'd start in overtime is just shot selection,” said Hakstol. “We’ve got to be a little bit pressing a little bit maybe in those situations. We've got to have better shot selection in order to hold the puck for some good opportunities.”
Vejmelka made 27 saves in the win for Arizona, who has won the first two of three matchups this season.
The Kraken will open a four-game homestand on Sunday, 6pm PT against the Montreal Canadiens (93.3 KJR / Kraken Audio Network).