Doan scores twice in NHL debut, Coyotes get 4 goals in 3rd to beat Blue Jackets 6-2
Doan scores twice in NHL debut, Coyotes get 4 goals in 3rd to beat Blue Jackets 6-2
Arizona Coyotes’ Josh Doan, right, smiles as he celebrates his two-goal NHL debut with Juuso Valimaki (4) and Matias Maccelli (63), after the team’s hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. The Coyotes won 6-2. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Coyotes’ Josh Doan points to the crowd after getting the first star award, after the team’s NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. Doan scored two goals in his first NHL game, which the Coyotes won 6-2. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Coyotes goaltender Karel Vejmelka, left, makes a save on a shot by Columbus Blue Jackets center Alexandre Texier (42) as Blue Jackets center Boone Jenner (38), Coyotes defenseman Juuso Valimaki (4), Coyotes’ Michael Kesselring (5) and Blue Jackets left wing Johnny Gaudreau (13) look on during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins makes a save against the Arizona Coyotes during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Coyotes center Liam O’Brien (38) fights with Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Mathieu Olivier, right, during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins, second from right, makes a save on a shot by Arizona Coyotes center Alex Kerfoot (15) as Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson, right, skates to the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Coyotes defenseman Travis Dermott (33) celebrates with goaltender Karel Vejmelka, right, as time expires in the team’s NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. The Coyotes won 6-2. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Coyotes right wing Josh Doan, right, celebrates a goal, his second of the night against Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins, left, as Coyotes center Jack McBain, back right, celebrates with Doan during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. The Coyotes won 6-2 in Doan’s debut in the NHL. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Coyotes center Nick Schmaltz (8) scores a shorthanded goal against Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins, left, as defenseman Zach Werenski (8) watches during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. The Coyotes won 6-2. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Coyotes center Nick Schmaltz (8) celebrates his shorthanded goal, next to Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. The Coyotes won 6-2. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Coyotes’ Josh Doan, right, smiles as he celebrates his two-goal NHL debut with Juuso Valimaki (4) and Matias Maccelli (63), after the team’s hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. The Coyotes won 6-2. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Coyotes’ Josh Doan, right, smiles as he celebrates his two-goal NHL debut with Juuso Valimaki (4) and Matias Maccelli (63), after the team’s hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. The Coyotes won 6-2. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Coyotes’ Josh Doan points to the crowd after getting the first star award, after the team’s NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. Doan scored two goals in his first NHL game, which the Coyotes won 6-2. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Coyotes’ Josh Doan points to the crowd after getting the first star award, after the team’s NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. Doan scored two goals in his first NHL game, which the Coyotes won 6-2. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Coyotes goaltender Karel Vejmelka, left, makes a save on a shot by Columbus Blue Jackets center Alexandre Texier (42) as Blue Jackets center Boone Jenner (38), Coyotes defenseman Juuso Valimaki (4), Coyotes’ Michael Kesselring (5) and Blue Jackets left wing Johnny Gaudreau (13) look on during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Coyotes goaltender Karel Vejmelka, left, makes a save on a shot by Columbus Blue Jackets center Alexandre Texier (42) as Blue Jackets center Boone Jenner (38), Coyotes defenseman Juuso Valimaki (4), Coyotes’ Michael Kesselring (5) and Blue Jackets left wing Johnny Gaudreau (13) look on during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins makes a save against the Arizona Coyotes during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins makes a save against the Arizona Coyotes during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Coyotes center Liam O’Brien (38) fights with Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Mathieu Olivier, right, during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Coyotes center Liam O’Brien (38) fights with Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Mathieu Olivier, right, during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins, second from right, makes a save on a shot by Arizona Coyotes center Alex Kerfoot (15) as Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson, right, skates to the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins, second from right, makes a save on a shot by Arizona Coyotes center Alex Kerfoot (15) as Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson, right, skates to the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Coyotes defenseman Travis Dermott (33) celebrates with goaltender Karel Vejmelka, right, as time expires in the team’s NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. The Coyotes won 6-2. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Coyotes defenseman Travis Dermott (33) celebrates with goaltender Karel Vejmelka, right, as time expires in the team’s NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. The Coyotes won 6-2. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Coyotes right wing Josh Doan, right, celebrates a goal, his second of the night against Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins, left, as Coyotes center Jack McBain, back right, celebrates with Doan during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. The Coyotes won 6-2 in Doan’s debut in the NHL. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Coyotes right wing Josh Doan, right, celebrates a goal, his second of the night against Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins, left, as Coyotes center Jack McBain, back right, celebrates with Doan during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. The Coyotes won 6-2 in Doan’s debut in the NHL. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Coyotes center Nick Schmaltz (8) scores a shorthanded goal against Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins, left, as defenseman Zach Werenski (8) watches during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. The Coyotes won 6-2. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Coyotes center Nick Schmaltz (8) scores a shorthanded goal against Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins, left, as defenseman Zach Werenski (8) watches during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. The Coyotes won 6-2. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Coyotes center Nick Schmaltz (8) celebrates his shorthanded goal, next to Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. The Coyotes won 6-2. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Coyotes center Nick Schmaltz (8) celebrates his shorthanded goal, next to Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. The Coyotes won 6-2. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Josh Doan had two goals in his first NHL game including the go-ahead score with 8:29 left in the third period and the Arizona Coyotes beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-2 on Tuesday night.
Nick Bjugstad, Nick Schmaltz, Dylan Guenther and Matias Maccelli also scored as Arizona pulled away with four goals in the third period. Karel Vejmelka stopped 24 shots for the Coyotes.
Doan, from nearby Scottsdale, is the son of longtime Coyotes captain Shane Doan and the first Arizona native to play for the franchise. He played collegiately at Arizona State and was called up Monday from Tucson of the AHL, where he led the Roadrunners with 26 goals and 20 assists in 62 games.
“All the guys made it so special, made sure I was calm,” said Josh Doan, whose father watched from a suite at Mullett Arena. “I was almost too relaxed and laid back and I had to figure out how to play my game.”
“I tried to keep it simple. I’ve worked on playing around the net, that’s where goals are scored so you got to find yourself in front of those areas.
With the game tied at 2-all, Doan deflected a shot by Maccelli past Columbus goalie Elvis Merzlikins to put Arizona ahead to stay.
He also scored an unassisted goal in the second period, backhanding the puck past Merzlikins at close range.
“The way he played, not just the goals, he played the right way,” Coyotes coach Andre Tourigny said. “He was really good, he played with two guys (Maccelli and Jack McBain) who played a really good game as well.”
Schmaltz and Guenther’s goals were short-handed. Schmaltz’s was his 20th of the season.
Boone Jenner and Zach Werenski scored for Columbus, which has lost five in a row since it last won on March 16. Merzlikins had 29 saves for the Blue Jackets.
A minute after Doan’s first goal, Michael Kesselring was penalized for tripping and with 38.8 seconds left in the period, Werenski scored on the power play for Columbus to tie it at 2-2. Werenski assisted on Jenner’s goal and Johnny Gaudreau assisted on both.
Despite the win, the Coyotes were officially eliminated from postseason play on Tuesday when eighth-place Vegas picked up a point in a 5-4 overtime loss at Nashville. The Blue Jackets were ousted from the playoff race Sunday.
Clayton Keller’s five-game goal streak come to an end. It’s the franchise’s longest streak since Daniel Briere had six in January 2001. Keller did have an assist on Maccelli’s goal.
The Blue Jackets had a goal taken off the board in the final minute of the first period when Alexandre Texier was penalized for high sticking before scoring in front of the net.
There were fights in each period. Two minutes into the game, Columbus’ Mathieu Olivier and Arizona’s Liam O’Brien squared off near center ice. Each got five minutes for fighting. Erik Gudbrandson and Arizona’s Josh Brown fought in the second period and with 1:21 to go, the Coyotes’ Michael Carcone and the Blue Jackets’ James Malatesta — also making his NHL debut — exchanged punches.
NEXT
Blue Jackets: At Pittsburgh on Thursday night.
Coyotes: Host Nashville on Thursday night.
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