The Wrap: Coyotes Drop High-Scoring Affair to St. Louis

Final Score: Blues 7, Coyotes 4

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The visiting St. Louis Blues defeated the Coyotes by a score of 7-4. The Yotes scored first for the second consecutive game, but a five-goal second period by the visitors swung the tide of the contest. Arizona fought back and notched two goals in the third, but ultimately the middle frame gave St. Louis a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
"I think when they scored the second goal after we got emotional. We were not there mentally, that is not us, we cannot do that," said Head Coach André Tourigny. "We have a good group of hard-working players who can play tight together and we showed it during that game, and did a lot of good things, but if we don't stay relentless that is what will happen."
Facing his hometown team, Clayton Keller potted the game's opening goal by hammering home a rebound on the power play, marking the second consecutive games the Yotes scored first. St. Louis evened the ledger less than two minutes later, and the clubs went to intermission tied 1-1.
Video: STL@ARI: Keller one-times rebound for power-play goal
Lawson Crouse notched his first goal of the season early in the second to regain the lead. However, the Blues added four goals down the stretch to jump out in front 6-2 after 40 minutes of play.
"It is a fast game. It happened so fast," said Clayton Keller. "That is where our team needs to take the next step. When we do let in a goal or two, it's not just a full breakdown the next couple of shifts and they keep just pounding us. I think that is when we have to play simple hockey."
Arizona responded by outscoring the Blues in the third period, beginning with Christian Fischer's first goal of the night. The marker was assisted by Keller and Gostisbehere to ink a multi-point night for the winger and a three-point night for the blueliner.
Travis Boyd sliced the deficit to two with his first goal as a Yote, but St. Louis added one more with under eight minutes to go to grab a 7-4 lead that would hold the rest of the way.
Video: STL@ARI: Lyubushkin fires puck by Binnington in 3rd
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The Game:
First Period (ARI 1, STL 1): Clayton Keller (2), assisted by Phil Kessel (2) and Shayne Gostisbehere (2) at 5:26. /// Pavel Buchnevich (1), assisted by Jordan Kyrou (3) and Torey Krug (1) at 7:05.
Second Period (STL 6, ARI 2): Lawson Crouse (1), assisted by Phil Kessel (3) and Shayne Gostisbehere (3) at 3:58. /// Justin Faulk (2), assisted by Jordan Kyrou (4) and Tyler Bozak (2) at 11:10. /// Jordan Kyrou (1) at 12:46. /// Klim Kostin (1), assisted by Robert Thomas (1) and Justin Faulk at 14:40. /// Klim Kostin (2), assisted by Jake Neighbours (1) and Robert Bortuzzo (1) at 15:27. /// Jordan Kyrou (2), assisted by Ryan O'Reilly (1) and Jake Walman (1) at 16:17.
Third Period (STL 7, ARI 4): Christian Fischer (1), assisted by Clayton Keller (1) and Shayne Gostisbehere (4) at 5:25. /// Travis Boyd (1), assisted by Ilya Lyubushkin (1) and Loui Eriksson (1) at 8:23. /// Ivan Barbashev (1), assisted by Robert Thomas (2) and Vladimir Tarasenko (1) at 12:25.
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Statistics:
SOG: ARI - 26, STL - 33
PP: ARI - 1/4, STL - 1/3
Hits: ARI - 12, STL - 15
Blocks: ARI - 6, STL - 13
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Tourigny's Take: "I felt we did a lot of good things, and did enough to be happy about ourselves, but it's the NHL - it's the best league in the world. You cannot have that kind of a five minutes. You're playing against a team that just won the Stanley Cup three years ago. You need to sustain, and that's the frustrating part."
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Shayne Gostisbehere said: "For us, we were taking over that game. We had a one-goal lead, they tied it, then we got one back and they tied it. Like you said, it was a very manageable game. I know we're a very new team and a lot of different guys, but I think we just need to make it easier on ourselves and just go out there and play hockey."
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Notable:
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A Closer Look: After the team's four-goal night, Clayton Keller will enter Thursday as the Coyotes goals leader (2); Shayne Gostisbehere holds team-lead in assists and points (4).
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Coyotes Lineup:
Forwards
Crouse - Schmaltz - Keller
Eriksson - Boyd - Kessel
Ladd - Larsson - Dzingel
Roussel - Beagle - Fischer
Defensemen
Chychrun - Timmins
Gostisbehere - Stralman
Lyubushkin - Soderstrom
Scratches
Jaškin
O'Brien
Mayo
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Roster Notes: Carter Hutton returned between the pipes for his second start of the year. Defenseman Dysin Mayo was recalled to the NHL roster Monday morning, but did not suit up in the game.
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What's Next: The Coyotes continue the three-game homestand with a Thursday night (Oct. 21) tilt with the Edmonton Oilers. Puck drop with the Oilers is set for 7 p.m. and will be broadcasted on Bally Sports Arizona and 670 AM.
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Photo of the Game: The Coyotes line up on the blue line ahead of the National Anthem donning the white kachina sweaters. Monday marked the first time since 2002-03 that the franchise wore the white kachina sweaters at home.