GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona rookie Conor Garland was challenging for a roster spot before he broke a hand in training camp. Healthy again, he is making his mark.
Garland was credited with two goals — the first appearing to just graze his uniform — and Darcy Kuemper made 23 saves for his first shutout of the season and 12th overall to help the Coyotes beat the New York Rangers 5-0 on Sunday to end a three-game losing streak.
"If you look at his goals, too, I don't care if they go off his pants or not, he's in front of the net," Arizona coach Rick Tocchet, who recorded his 100th NHL victory. "It doesn't matter how they go in. I have to give him a lot of credit because he is in front of the net."
Garland was stationed just outside the crease when Oliver Ekman-Larsson's wrister from inside the blue line got past Henrik Lundqvist on a power play to open the scoring at 7:19 of the first period, the beginning of another tough game for Lundqvist.
Alex Galchenyuk had a goal and two assists, and Mario Kempe and Clayton Keller also scored as the Coyotes scored all their goals in the first two period while winning for the second time in their last nine home games
Galchenyuk has 10 points in his last eight games and Garland has three goals in his last two games and five in his last seven. He was recalled from Tucson of the American Hockey League early last month.
"I feel more comfortable every game," Garland said. "You get to see film, talk to the coaches after a game and pick up new things. It is slowing down. It feels good."
Lundqvist stopped 27 of 32 shots before being replaced by Alexander Georgiev with 3:22 left in the second period. Lundqvist also was pulled in his last start, a 7-2 loss to Pittsburgh on Wednesday night.
The Rangers have been outscored 18-3 while losing three straight games and have lost six of eight and nine of 12. They were shut out for the third time this season and have given up four power play goals in the last two games — three in a 6-1 loss at Colorado on Friday night.
"We're fragile mentally and physically right now, the ways things are going," Rangers coach David Quinn said.
"There are a whole heap of problems, and we have to address them. We had no legs today. They had way more jump than we did. It was every man. We just didn't have any energy. You can't play with no energy in this league."
The Coyotes had scored only four goals in their last three games and had been held to one or fewer goals in seven of their last 12, including a 3-2 overtime loss to New Jersey on Friday.
"We wanted a good bounce-back game, and it starts with the first period," Garland said.
Kempe made it 2-0 exactly two minutes later when the Rangers could not clear a bouncing puck near the left circle. Kempe fired a wrist shot that beat Lundqvist high to the blocker side.
Garland struck again at 6:34 of the second, when a shot from the slot deflected off Kevin Shattenkirk's stick and fluttered past Lundqvist. Galchenyuk's poke check at his own blue line started the rush.
"We're not starting very well, and it's snow-balling on us," New York's Marc Staal said.
Keller and Galchenyuk added goals in second, with Keller's shot through the five-hole sending Lundqvist to the bench.
NOTES: Rangers center Kevin Hayes, who is second on the team with 34 points, did not play for the second straight game. He suffered what is believed to be mid-body injury when he ran into the boards in a Dec. 14 game against the Coyotes. ... The Rangers played the eighth game of a stretch in which they are to play 12 games in 23 days in four time zones. They are 2-4-2 thus far. ... Kuemper's mask was knocked off by Brandon Smith's wrist shot 1:30 into the second period, and play was stopped while he got a new one. ... The Coyotes swept the two-game season series after overcoming a 3-0 lead for a 4-3 overtime victory in New York on Dec. 14. ... Tocchet was asked about his 100th victory: "It took a long time," he said, smiling. It came in his 272nd game over three-plus seasons, the first two with Tampa Bay.
UP NEXT
Rangers: At Vegas on Tuesday night.
Coyotes: At Vancouver on Thursday night.
