ST. LOUIS – Coyotes forward Clayton Keller stepped onto the ice, pushed off with his right skate and glided to the corner.
He scooped up a loose puck, looped around the zone and ripped a shot into the empty net while fans clad in Team U.S.A. and Boston University jerseys lined the glass.
Keller had the ice to himself for about 16 seconds, a rookie ritual at the start of the pregame skate that the Coyotes have employed more than a few times this season with so many first-year players getting the chance to play – a population that continues to grow despite less than two weeks remaining on the schedule.