Revamped Coyotes get first win in a month

by Adnan Alam

By JUSTIN CABRERA
Cronkite News

GLENDALE – The Arizona Coyotes’ last win before Thursday night was nearly a month ago. On Feb. 9 in Chicago, the Blackhawks’ Klas Dahlbeck watched Arizona’s Antoine Vermette score the winning goal in a shootout.

Dahlbeck and Vermette have since traded jerseys, and last night’s shootout win at Gila River Arena was the first Coyotes victory for Dahlbeck and John Moore, both acquired in the days and hours leading up to the NHL trade deadline on Monday.

“Winning solves everything. It was nice to get my first win as a Coyote and hopefully a lot more to come,” Moore said.

The environment change is drastic for Moore coming from New York, but he says he has been welcomed and is having fun.

“It’s a great group of guys, they’ve been awesome. And I’ve been enjoying the sunshine,” Moore said.

Moore said it has been difficult learning a new system, but despite the challenges the Coyotes were able to win on Thursday night against the Canucks.

Dahlbeck understands he is fighting for ice time, and with more opportunity than in Chicago he plans to take advantage of the situation.

“I think ice time is something you deserve, so you gotta play good every shift to get more time,” Dahlbeck said.

The two new guys are becoming friends and said having another guy transition with you has made it helpful.

“We share the same drive every day, answer the same questions. It’s good to have someone to go through this together,” Moore said.

Coyotes captain Shane Doan is impressed with what he has seen so far from his new teammates.

“These young guys have done a great job. They bring their own enthusiasm to play, and we’re excited to have them in our lineup,” Doan said.

The 38-year-old veteran did not comment on whether he will stick around for the rebuilding years but said he will play until “no one is watching” and that he still loves hockey.

Thursday night was especially fun for the fans and players as it was the first time the Coyotes wore their black Kachina-style jerseys since they donned them from 1996-2003.

“We looked good,” center Sam Gagner said. “I hope we can wear them more.”

The Coyotes are looking forward to hosting the Canadiens on Saturday night, the third game of a six-game homestand. With about a month of hockey left and little chance of making the playoffs, the young guys will be competing for next year’s roster.


Klas Dahlbeck (middle) and John Moore (right) are excited to get their first Coyotes win under their belts.
(Cronkite News photo by Nick Lamoureux)