After a debacle of an opening night Thursday at Columbus, the Arizona Coyotes figured they could only get better and show improvement.
They accomplished that, but lost 2-1 in the overtime shootout to earn their first point of the season Saturday afternoon in Buffalo. Rookie goaltender Karel Vejmelka stopped 32 shots in his NHL debut and first official pro hockey game in North America.
The Coyotes (0-1-1) took their first lead of the season, 1-0, at 13:51 of the first period, when Andrew Ladd put in a pass from behind the net from Ryan Dzingel. Longtime former Sabre Johann Larsson got an assist as well for his second of the season.