Breaking down Bruins' 19-game, decade-plus winning streak vs. Coyotes
Including the last time the Coyotes won against Boston, and the last time they did so in North America
If you’re like me, you’re rarely moved by most team vs. team streaks in hockey. They usually only go back a few years. Parity tends to evens these things out.
But, OK Coyotes and Bruins, you got me. The Boston Bruins own 19 consecutive wins against the Arizona Coyotes, who were still losing to Boston when they were the Phoenix Coyotes.
Need a hasty artist’s depiction? Of course you do.
The Bruins get a chance to make it 20 games in a row on Friday. Since this is a truly eyebrow-raising streak (for me, and I’d wager others), I thought I’d throw some content at it.
To start, I’ll go straightforward, but hopefully deeply interesting for hockey fans. Here’s a look back at all 19 consecutive Bruins wins. First, though, I’ll begin with the Coyotes’ last two wins against the Bruins. That includes a win in the Czech Republic/Czechia, and their most recent defeat of Boston in North America.
Since those wins happened more than a decade ago, there’s room for additional shenanigans. Maybe a look at what’s happened since October 2010 — not just in hockey, but in the world? Stay tuned before Friday’s game.
The last times the Coyotes beat the Bruins (in general, and in North America)
2009-10
October 18, 2009: Coyotes (then Phoenix) beat Bruins 4-1
This is the last time the Coyotes beat the Bruins in a regular season game in North America. Almost exactly one year later, the Coyotes would get their most recent win against the Bruins, period, to begin a set of back-to-back games in Czechia/the Czech Republic.
Shane Doan collected three assists, Keith Yandle helped out, and announced attendance was at 9,162 (54% capacity).
2010-11
October 9, 2010: Coyotes (then Phoenix) beat Bruins 5-2, last time they beat Boston
Remove the location-based caveats, and this is the last time the now-Arizona, then-Phoenix Coyotes beat the Bruins. If you’re like me, you might smile to see that Radim Vrbata factored into the win, and then feel a little sad that concussions/etc. shortened Nathan Horton’s promising career.
Breaking down the Bruins’ 19-game winning streak against the Coyotes
October 10, 2010: Bruins 3, Coyotes 0 -- the streak begins
A day later, Tim Thomas didn’t just get the shutout; he also nabbed an assist. Quite a ride just to consider the goal scorers: Milan Lucic, Tyler Seguin, and Nathan Horton.
2011-12
Dec. 28, 2011: Bruins 2, Coyotes 1 (OT)
You think the Bruins might have been in a defensive mode when they actually scored the OT-winner? I’m asking because Dennis Seidenberg scored the OTGWG, with assists by Benoit Pouliot and Chris Kelly. I was going to question everything, really … then I recalled that you can’t spell OT without Pouliot.
No game in 2012-13, “yay” lockout
2013-14
March 13, 2014: Bruins 2, Coyotes 1
Holy smokes, this looked like a snore of a game. Shots were 22-20; they barely even hit each other. Hockey’s come a long way lately (here’s hoping the NHL doesn’t mess that up).
March 22, 2014: Bruins 4, Coyotes 2
Lookee there, a sellout in Glendale! The Coyotes didn’t win, but this sure seemed to be around the time when Oliver Ekman-Larsson actually was really good. He scored his 12th goal of the season there. Speaking of 12, the Bruins extended a winning streak to 12 games that night. Seems like the Bruins have been good a lot over the years, eh?
2014-15
Dec. 6, 2014: Bruins 5, Coyotes 2
Huzzah, the era of the Arizona Coyotes commenced in 2014-15. New state-over-city branding, same bad taste!
Sometimes you need to be reminded of things, like Simon Gagne being a Boston Bruin. Some other fun names on the scoresheet: Loui Eriksson, Reilly Smith, and Dougie Hamilton.
Feb. 28, 2015: Bruins 4, Coyotes 1
This was definitely an era of “Shane Doan, Keith Yandle, maybe a few other guys, and then a player you forgot played for that team.” On Feb. 28, 2015, a guy I forgot was a Coyote scored their only goal: Martin Erat. I heard Capitals fans just light up when you bring up his name. Try it around George McPhee.
2015-16
Oct, 18, 2015: Bruins 5, Coyotes 3
Much of this exercise involves Realizing I Didn’t Remember Coyotes Guys. But the first Bruins scorer, Tyler Randell, is someone I either never knew or only briefly knew.
Sorry Tyler, looking at his Hockey DB page made me feel a little better about my “Who???” reaction. He was a lightly drafted player who would end up playing 27 NHL games, scoring six goals and zero assists. (Hey, Mr. Randell, at least you can boast about scoring at better than a goal-every-five-games pace in the NHL.) While Randell’s time in the NHL was short, he only ended his hockey career in 2019-20.
For a game that fit plenty of patterns (strong production from Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, Shane Doan + Bruins win and Coyotes loss), I imagine this one probably doesn’t blur together for Tyler Randell.
Oct. 27, 2015: Bruins 6, Coyotes 0
Likely one of the best games in the career of Jimmy Hayes, who died at age 31 on Aug. 23, 2021. Hayes scored a goal and two assists, boosting him to one of the best seasons of his career.
Tuukka Rask only needed to make 24 saves to shut out the Coyotes on that night.
2016-17
Nov. 12, 2016: Bruins 2, Coyotes 1
Hey, close to a sellout in Glendale. That’s about the most interesting thing to say about a game where the Bruins scored their game-winner halfway through the second period. I guess it’s interesting that Boston smashed Arizona in the faceoff circle (43-24)? Radim Vrbata was still scoring goals for the Coyotes after all that time.
Feb. 28, 2017: Bruins 4, Coyotes 1
Another game where the Bruins didn’t even need to score during the third period. As usual, Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and David Krejci feasted. One name does stick out: David Backes. The rugged forward with the even-more-rugged contract reached his 13th goal of what would be a 17-goal season.
2017-18
Oct. 14, 2017: Bruins 6, Coyotes 2
You might say the Bruins were “eating” against the Coyotes in 2017-18. This was around the time that David Pastrnak could start chomping down on the ‘Yotes.
From the guys you forgot or never knew files: Mario Kempe. Yes, Adrian Kempe’s brother played in the NHL, all 70 at that level with the Coyotes. As far as I can tell, Mario Kempe’s played at least a single game overseas in 2022-23.
Dec. 7, 2017: Bruins 6, Coyotes 1
David Backes lapped up two goals to start. Christian Dvorak ended up being Arizona’s lone goal scorer. When fans see a lot of old names, they might feel wistful -- especially as this streak climbs toward the present. I’d imagine Dvorak’s name brings more of a smile, though? Getting a first and a second-round pick for Dvorak is a pristine example of selling high.
2018-19
Nov. 17, 2018: Bruins 2, Coyotes 1
Generally, quite a few of these Bruins - Coyotes games take place early in the season. This, to me, is a great ticket-selling strategy. Fill some seats in Glendale (96% capacity on this night) before the doom and gloom of another lost season sets in. I mean, sure, I’d imagine there were a lot of Bruins jerseys in the stands that night, but hey, their money counts the same, right?
Dec. 11, 2018: Bruins 4, Coyotes 3
This one carried some of the pattern over. For one thing, the usual Bruins chowed down. Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, and David Krejci all managed three-point games. Boston also won despite failing to score during the third period. Yet, in this case, the Bruins needed such performances, because Arizona put up a fight.
One other interesting note:
Eventual Maple Leafs steal Michael Bunting scored his first NHL goal, and his only tally at that level in limited reps (that one goal was his only point in five games with the Coyotes in 2018-19). Bunting made the most of his opportunities the next season with Arizona, racking up 13 points in 21 games back in 2019-20. Toronto took a shot on his underlying numbers being legit, and he’s been an underrated find. I was about to make a joke about how he was one of the rare Toronto budget players who didn’t play for the Soo Greyhounds … but, um, he … did.
2019-20
Oct. 5, 2019: Bruins 1, Coyotes 0
Get those Bruins - Coyotes games in, sell out in Glendale. Heck, you don’t even need to have a high-scoring game. In this case, the shutout was earned, at least in terms of volume. Jaroslav Halak made a 35-save shutout, with Brad Marchand’s goal being the only one Boston needed to beat Darcy Kuemper (25 saves). Marchand scored that goal late in the first period, so that must’ve been a real whopper of a thrillride of a show.
Feb. 8, 2020: Bruins 4, Coyotes 2
After a scoreless first period, Phil Kessel scored against the team that drafted and then traded him. You likely know that the Bruins got the last laugh, though. Unless you’re really unobservant. (Or you really need a nap.)
No game in 2020-21; this time the NHL had a decent excuse
2021-22
Jan. 28, 2022: Bruins 2, Coyotes 1
Anyone else think it’s a small crime that Erik Haula never howled with the Coyotes?
Instead, he scored against them in this close game. Charlie McAvoy scored the game-winner less than 14 minutes into the second period, marking another Bruins win where they didn’t tally a goal in the final frame.
In this case, it seemed like the score was deceptive. Linus Ullmark made 30 saves, while Scott Wedgewood stopped 35 pucks.
This pushed the Bruins’ winning streak to 17 games at that time. You may have heard a thing or two about the Atlantic Division being really good, especially last season. It was true.
March 12, 2022: Bruins 3, Coyotes 2
Names I’ve been noticing a bit down this stretch popped up here: Clayton Keller, Nick Schmaltz, and Charlie Coyle. Coyle ended up making the difference in this one. It was also a nice night for Craig Smith, who scored the Bruins’ (and game’s) first two goals. In this case, the Coyle GWG came pretty late in the third period. Puh-progress?
This season (2022-23)
First meeting on Oct. 15, 2022: Bruins 6, Coyotes 3
The Coyotes were getting their gymnasium new home ready, so this one took place in Boston.
So far in his career (entering Wednesday’s action), A.J. Greer has scored five goals and 10 assists for 15 points in 66 NHL games. Those games are sprinkled into appearances with the Avalanche, Devils, and now the Bruins, touching on seasons starting in 2016-17.
Greer generated two goals and one assist in this win against the Coyotes, or one-fifth of his NHL production. That included an empty-netter. Now that’s what we call savvy: treat the Coyotes like your point production buffet. If I were the NHL agent of a hard-partying player with a new contract in the near future, I’d threaten to quit if they didn’t take it easy the night before Coyotes games. Be tired and hungover against an NHL defense, buck.
(I wouldn’t have many clients on account of the whole “buck” tick.)
Quick (yes, a bit early) preview of the next Coyotes - Bruins game
This all brings us to the Coyotes’ chance to break the Bruins’ winning streak at 19 games, or to watch it grow to 20 and extend to next season. (Going to call a wild shot and say these teams won’t meet in the 2023 Stanley Cup Final.)
The Bruins begin a three-game road trip against the injury-ravaged Avalanche on Wednesday, then travel to the Coyotes and their unusual arena. Whether you think the Devils or some other team might have the better long-term chances, just about anyone would nod if you said that the Bruins are off to the best start in the NHL this season.
Meanwhile, the Coyotes end a grueling 14-game road trip in Edmonton against the Oilers on Wednesday. They began that trek with a 3-6-1 record, and now stand at 7-12-4. In all honesty, that’s sneaky-impressive, because the makeup of this roster leads you to believe that just about any win is a small miracle.
Would it be a big miracle if the Coyotes ended their losing streak to the Bruins here? I dunno, how much of a miracle is any outcome amid the monotony of an 82-game season? “Huge upset” feels right, though.