The first Arizona Coyotes home game at Mullett Arena is officially in the books.
It was a back-and-forth contest full of momentum swings, cheers, boos and free mullet wigs. Ultimately, it took more than the standard 60 minutes to decide a winner.
Ultimately, former Coyotes draft pick and current Jets forward Blake Wheeler scored just 32 seconds into overtime to spoil the ASU homecoming party. But it’s safe to say the hometown fans in attendance still enjoyed the 3-2 overtime loss.
As advertised, Arizona State University students were able to purchase tickets at the south end of the bowl for a discounted rate. The result? A rowdy, jam-packed student section that partied all night long.
With both the ASU and Coyotes logos painted at center ice, it was fitting that both Josh and Shane Doan were on hand to drop the puck for the ceremonial face-off.
Josh, a Coyotes prospect, currently captains the ASU Sun Devils hockey team. Shane, who retired from professional hockey in 2017, is the only player to have his jersey number retired by the Coyotes.
Fischer sent the crowd into a frenzy at the 10:17 mark of the first period when he deflected a long-range shot by Troy Stecher past Jets goaltender David Rittich, scoring the first NHL goal at Mullett Arena and giving the Coyotes a 1-0 lead.
It look just over five minutes for Fischer to give the Coyotes some insurance. The 25-year-old winger entered Friday’s game with just one goal on the season, but he scored his second goal of the period directly off a face-off win to make it a 2-0 hockey game.
But Cole Perfetti, who was arguably the best player on the ice for either team, wasted little time in answering right back. The Coyotes only enjoyed their multi-goal lead for 26 seconds, with Perfetti cutting it to 2–1 after undressing Coyotes starter Karel Vejmelka in tight.
Jets alternate captain Mark Scheifele tied the game at the 8:34 mark of the third period, but the Coyotes managed to hold on for dear life to preserve the draw until the end of regulation and earn a point.
Vejmelka was spectacular in the final frame as the Jets outshot the Coyotes 13-2 and came within centimeters of netting a dagger in the dying seconds. All told, the big Czech netminder stopped 32 of the 35 shots he faced in the overtime loss.
Mullett Arena was packed and relentlessly loud throughout Friday’s home opener, from the first drumline show to the endless Cameron “Cheers” Hughes T-shirt performances and the start of three-on-three overtime. It may not have felt like a typical NHL game, but it was a unique — and entertaining — experience.
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