Phoenix Coyotes defeat Dinamo Riga 3-1 in final exhibition game
The Phoenix Coyotes’ visit to Europe got off to a good start on Wednesday night as they defeated Dinamo Riga by a score of 3-1 in front of 10,250 fans in Riga, Latvia.
Playing in their final game of the pre-season, the Coyotes were stacked against one of the best teams in the Kontinental Hockey League. Dinamo’s roster features many players who play for the Latvian national hockey team, and the Coyotes expected the game
to be a real challenge for them.
Playing in front of Dinamo’s passionate fan base, the Desert Dogs were the first to score, with Lee Stempniak finding the back of the net with a great shot in the first period. Mark Hartigan, a former NHLer replied for Dinamo in the second period, but the
Coyotes got that one back with a superbly set up goal from Petr Prucha with two seconds left on the clock. Taylor Pyatt would later round out the scoring with Phoenix’s third goal of the game.
“Every win gives you a little more confidence,” Prucha said of the victory. “We will use this in the first game. I think we are ready now.”
Prucha was playing on a line with two of his Czech mates, Martin Hanzal and Radim Vrbata. Both were instrumental setting up Prucha’s second-period tally. Head coach Dave Tippett was impressed by his team’s play against Dinamo, and he felt that the win would
prepare them for their season-opener against the Boston Bruins in Prague, Czech Republic.
“I thought it was a good showing by our team,” Phoenix coach Dave Tippett said. “Our guys got some important work in, and now we are ready for Boston.”
The Latvian faithful was sure that their team would easily defeat the Coyotes, as SKA St. Petersburg had beaten the Carolina Hurricanes 5-3 earlier. But Phoenix got the ball rolling early, and emerged victorious as a result. However, the fans’ devotion to
their team impressed Coyotes captain Shane Doan.
“It was an unbelievable atmosphere,” the right-winger said. “Arguably, they are the best fans in the world with the way they support their teams. It was a great experience.”
Defenceman Ed Jovanovski said that defeating Dinamo “was good preparation for us. It was kind of difficult starting the day practicing in Prague and then flying out here and playing on the bigger ice, but we found a way to get it done.”
Phoenix opens their season against the Boston Bruins in Prague on Saturday, with the game scheduled to start at high noon.
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