Kinkaid rescues Devils in shootout win against Coyotes

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Keith Kinkaid made 15 saves after replacing the injured Mackenzie Blackwood in the first period, and the New Jersey Devils defeated the Arizona Coyotes 3-2 in a shootout at Gila River Arena on Friday.

"I didn't really settle in until a little bit later in the game," Kinkaid said. "The shootout was a peak point and I just wanted to get the win for the guys."
Nico Hischier scored on his 20th birthday for the Devils (16-17-7), who won for the fifth time in seven games. Kyle Palmieri and Drew Stafford, in his 800th NHL game, scored in the shootout.
WATCH: [All Devils vs. Coyotes highlights]
"We had a goalie come in in relief and he was ready to play, and that's what it takes to win," Palmieri said.
Conor Garland and Christian Fischer scored, and Darcy Kuemper made 33 saves, including four difficult ones in overtime for the Coyotes (17-21-3), who lost their third in a row and fourth in five games (1-3-1).
"He gave us a chance to win, and that's all you can ask," Fischer said. "The goalies are giving us chances to win, they're making unbelievable stops. It'd be nice to reward them with a win once in a while."
Hischier gave the Devils a 1-0 lead 1:05 into the first period off a 2-on-1 rush with Palmieri. Coyotes forward Clayton Keller slid into the net and dislodged it moments before Hischier's shot went in, but the goal was awarded upon video review because it was judged the puck would have gone in had the net remained in place.

Garland tied it at 1-1 when he intercepted a Pavel Zacha pass from behind the net and skated across the crease to score at 16:34. The goal came 45 seconds after Kinkaid replaced Blackwood, who made eight saves before leaving with a lower-body injury.
"Keith came in and was strong for us," Devils coach John Hynes said. "I thought he got better and better as the game went on."
Fischer put Arizona ahead 2-1 from the left face-off circle on an odd-man rush at 9:05 of the second. Blake Coleman tied it 2-2 at 16:16 off a backhand pass across the crease by Travis Zajac.
"There were a lot of ups and downs," Coleman said. "I thought each team had some good looks. There was a bounce here and a bounce there in overtime that could have gone either way … but we held on and got the win."

The Coyotes couldn't score during six minutes of power-play time during a seven-minute span of the third period, including a four-minute power play from a double minor high-sticking penalty on Brian Boyle.
"We just trust each other to do our jobs," Coleman said of the Devils' penalty-killing unit. "We know where we're going to be and what to expect from each other. That confidence in each other helps you focus on what you need to do."
The Coyotes were 0-for-5 on the power play, also failing to score during a 5-on-3 lasting 1:40 in the first period. The Devils were 0-for-3.
"The six-minute power play killed us, the second goal killed us too," Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet said. "We were in control of the game. A couple of people had the puck on their stick with no pressure and gave it away. It's disappointing. You got six minutes of power play, you've got to make a shot."

They said it

"He's a guy that everyone in this room looks up to. He's a pretty special guy. He goes about his business in the most professional manner you can imagine. It's good to see him get rewarded. He's a role model for all of us." -- Devils forward Kyle Palmieri on Drew Stafford playing his 800th NHL game
"Five or six regulars being out, I hate to keep saying it but you could tell tonight. We worked hard. You can tell the skill level wasn't there sometimes so we're just grinding away. I was a little disappointed in the power play, a couple of guys we needed to make a play have to shoot the puck." -- Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet

Need to know

The Devils are 5-13-3 on the road. Only the Ottawa Senators (4-14-1) have fewer road wins in the NHL. … Zajac had an assist, giving him three in his past two games. … Devils forward Blake Pietila made his season debut. He had one shot and three hits in 11:07. … The Coyotes are 7-12-2 at home, tying them with the Philadelphia Flyers (7-9-2) for the fewest home wins in the NHL. … Keller has not scored in 16 games. … Fischer has four points (two goals, two assists) in three games against the Devils.

What's next

Devils:At the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday (4 p.m. ET; SN, ATTSN-RM, MSG+, NHL.TV)
Coyotes:Host the New York Rangers on Sunday (4 p.m. ET; FS-A, MSG, NHL.TV)