Charlie McAvoy scored the go-ahead goal at 13:41 of the second period and Linus Ullmark stopped 30 of 31 shots to lead the Boston Bruins past the Arizona Coyotes 2-1 on Friday night in Glendale, Ariz.
McAvoy snapped in a wrist shot from the right circle for a power-play strike to give the Bruins a 2-1 advantage. The goal was McAvoy’s seventh of the season, matching his career high.
Erik Haula added his fifth goal of the year for Boston, which snapped a two-game skid with its 11th win in 15 games (11-3-1).
Nick Schmaltz netted his fifth of the season for the lone Coyotes’ goal. Scott Wedgewood recorded 35 saves on 37 attempts for Arizona, which took a fourth consecutive loss and its ninth in 13 games (4-7-2) overall.
It was the Bruins’ 17th consecutive victory over the Coyotes. Arizona has not beaten Boston since a 4-1 triumph at home on Oct. 17, 2009.
Ullmark got the start in net after Boston’s No. 1 netminder Tuukka Rask was a late scratch due to a lower-body injury. Boston recalled goalie Troy Grosenick from its taxi squad before the game.
Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk returned to the lineup after missing the previous two games with an upper-body injury.
Haula opened the scoring for the Bruins at 12:31 of the first period. The left winger beat Wedgewood through his five hole with a wrister from the slot off a feed from Bruins star David Pastrnak.
Schmaltz tied the game at 1-1 for the Coyotes with just under two minutes left in the opening period. Schmaltz glided into the left circle and received Shayne Gostisbehere’s pass through the slot before ripping a wrist shot into the lower left corner.
Arizona returns to the ice on Saturday night when it hosts the Buffalo Sabres. Boston visits the Dallas Stars on Sunday night to complete its three-game road trip.
–Field Level Media
