In their first game since announcing a three-year agreement with Arizona State University to play at the school's new multipurpose arena starting next season, the Coyotes hung tough with the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning but came up short, 4-3 on Friday night.
The Coyotes, then, are down to 18 more home games at Gila River Arena after Friday night. Knowing that they have a temporary home that will be ready to move into at some point in the fall months offers some stability going forward, as the Coyotes figure to be in rebuild mode throughout at least part of that time at ASU.