A three-goal first period gave the Coyotes all the cushion they’d need to hold off the Ducks for a 3-2 win Monday at Gila River Arena and improve to 8-4-1 in their last 13 games despite a late-game goalie change.
No. 1 Mike Smith left the action at 4:29 of the third period, not long after winger Jakob Silfverberg collided with Smith to knock his mask off. Smith continued to play before skating off. He was replaced by Marek Langhamer, who made his NHL debut and gave up only one goal – a wind-up from captain Ryan Getzlaf with 27 seconds left for Getzlaf's second goal of the game.