COYOTES

Justin Hodgman scores in long-awaited NHL debut

Sarah McLellan
azcentral sports
Coyotes' Justin Hodgman and Panthers' Dmitry Kulikov fight for the puck in the first period at Gila River Arena in Glendale, AZ on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014.

Coyotes center Justin Hodgman had played in a growing list of leagues except the one he wanted most: the National Hockey League.

He starred in the now-defunct International Hockey League, saw days in the East Coast Hockey League and even had a tour overseas in Finland and Russia.

But once he was given a chance as a 26-year-old to gain entrance into the NHL, he capitalized.

In his first career game, Hodgman scored a third-period equalizer on the power play which helped the Coyotes to a 2-1 overtime win over the Florida Panthers Saturday in front of 13,202 at Gila River Arena that snapped a three-game losing skid.

"I could have been in Belarus or somewhere in Russia. I don't know exactly," Hodgman said. "But when I got called up, the flight over here I had some good reflection time and it's been a special 24, 36 hours here."

Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson had the winner at 2:20 into the extra period when he one-timed a pass from Sam Gagner on the power play.

"It was a good feeling to see it go in," Ekman-Larsson said.

Hodgman's first career goal came at 9:51 when Lauri Korpikoski knocked down a Keith Yandle point shot and shoveled it to a waiting Hodgman at the back post, and he buried the puck past goalie Roberto Luongo who looked unbeatable up until that point.

"Last year at this time he's playing in Russia somewhere," coach Dave Tippett said. "He's got a family back home watching that game, and he's feeling good. That's why you play the game, to be an NHL player and score an NHL goal, and to get one in his first game at his age is pretty special."

MORE:Moss' injury opens spot for Justin Hodgman on Coyotes

Luongo finished with 39 saves, while goalie Mike Smith turned in a second straight strong performance with 23 saves of his own. The lone shot that beat him came off a turnover behind the Coyotes net. Winger Tomas Fleischmann picked up the puck and fed center Brandon Pirri, who deked backhand and slid the puck past Smith's glove at 1:47 of the third.

"It was kind of a hard chess match with not much happening," Tippett said.

The Coyotes thought they had one in the second when winger B.J. Crombeen redirected a puck in the air down into the net but upon video review, it was determined that his stick was over the crossbar when it made contact with the puck.

The Coyotes had five power play opportunities before connecting on Hodgman's goal, which ended a scoreless streak for the Coyotes that lasted 127:09 and spanned parts of three games.

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The Coyotes earned their eighth chance in overtime, and Ekman-Larsson tallied his second goal of the season – both overtime winners with the last one coming Oct.11 in a 3-2 win over the Kings – while Gagner picked up his first point as a Coyote with an assist.

"I was just kind of focusing on playing my game and letting things happen," said Gagner, who was on the wing for the first time this season. "I feel like it was better and obviously nice to kind of help out on the power play on the end there and find a way to get the team the two points. It's big and just gotta keep it going here."

In total, the Coyotes had 77 shot attempts with 21 getting blocked by the Panthers and another 15 missing the net. Only one of those was courtesy of Hodgman, who continued to take advantage of this opportunity with the Coyotes.

Hodgman was signed as a free agent to a one-year, two-way contract July 1. The team wasn't too familiar with him since he spent the previous three seasons in Europe – most recently in the Kontinental Hockey League in Russia – but he made an impression at training camp.

He led the team in scoring during the preseason with four goals and five points in five games and won a spot on the initial 23-man roster.

"I didn't even know if I expected that of myself," Hodgman said. "I just knew I was going to put forth my best effort."

But Hodgman was a healthy scratch for the first two games of the season before getting assigned to the American Hockey League.

"He was just looking for an opportunity somewhere, and he had a good camp," Tippett said. "He knew that the numbers were kind of against him at the start, but he's gotta keep playing. The biggest thing and (General Manager) Don (Maloney) and I have talked about it is he's played in Europe for two or three years now. To get back and acclimated to the size of rink over here is something he needed to do."

An upper-body injury to winger Dave Moss, who won't travel with the Coyotes on their upcoming road trip, Thursday left the Coyotes a forward short, and it didn't take long for Hodgman to make an impact.

"I'm sure I've got a bunch of phone calls to make and a bunch of text message from back home and all over the world," he said.


Report

Key player

Coyotes D Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored the overtime winner at 2:20 on the power play.

Key moment

Coyotes C Justin Hodgman tied it at 1 with his first NHL goal at 9:51 of the third period.

Key number

77 Total shot attempts by the Coyotes.

View from the press box

It wasn't surprising at all to find out that C Antoine Vermette had no idea that Saturday's game was his 400th consecutive appearance. His workman-like attitude is a vital asset to the Coyotes, and it's just become natural to see him out on the ice in all situations. But an iron-man streak like that is impressive and deserved kudos — especially considering the speed and physicality of today's game. "There's a luck factor," Vermette said. "But it's something I take pride in, to compete every night."

—Sarah McLellan