Schmaltz gets 2 goals and 5 assists, Coyotes beat Ottawa 8-5

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Arizona Coyotes center Nick Schmaltz (8) celebrates his goal against the Ottawa Senators with Coyotes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (14) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 5, 2022, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Nick Schmaltz scored twice and had five assists for a franchise-record seven points as the Arizona Coyotes recovered from a five-goal Ottawa rally to beat the Senators 8-5 Saturday.

Schmaltz helped set up four straight goals in the third period after the Coyotes fell behind. Carson Keller scored twice, including a goal that made it 5-all, and Lawson Crouse put Arizona ahead with a power-play tally.

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Playing his second NHL game, Arizona rookie Matias Maccelli scored his first career goal to give Arizona a 4-0 lead midway through the second period. Parker Kelly then scored twice as Senators got five goals in little over six minutes to go ahead 5-4 early in the third period.

The Coyotes, who beat NHL points leader Colorado on Friday, have won two in a row, three of four and four of six in their best extended stretch of the season.

Shayne Gostisbehere and Dyson Mayo also scored in the third for Arizona. Gostisbehere finished with three assists and Keller had two.

Josh Norris, Alex Formenton and Nick Paul scored for the Senators, who have lost four in a row.

Keller tied it at 5 when he hit an open net at 4:07 of third period after Ottawa goaltender Matt Murray could not get back into position after coming out to play a puck on the back boards.

Crouse put the Coyotes ahead 6-5 with a wrist shot on a power play at 6:57.

BOYD SIGNS EXTENSION

The Coyotes signed C Travis Boyd to a two-year contract extension worth an estimated $3.5 million. Boyd has career season highs with 10 goals and 24 points in 46 games.

Boyd, 28, also is one assist short of a career high while primarily skating on the Coyotes’ top line with Keller and Schmaltz.

ICE CHIPS

The Coyotes wore black uniform sweaters with rainbow-colored numerals during the pregame skate while celebrating “Pride Day.” … The Coyotes’ eight-game homestand was tied for the fourth-longest in franchise history. They have not won more than four games on their previous longer homestands. … Keller has 51 points and is on pace to become the Coyotes’ first 70-point player since Ray Whitney had 77 in 2011-12. … Maccelli is the eighth Coyote to make his NHL debut this season, one short of the franchise record.

UP NEXT

Ottawa: At Vegas on Sunday, the fourth game in a five-game road trip

Arizona: At Detroit on Tuesday for the start of a five-game trip.

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