Arizona Coyotes center Ryan Dzingel, right, scores a goal against Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Petr Mrazek, left, as Maple Leafs defenseman Travis Dermott (23) tries to help out during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022, in Glendale, Ariz.
Arizona Coyotes center Ryan Dzingel (10) celebrates his goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs with Coyotes’ Christian Fischer (36), Riley Nash (20) and Travis Boyd (72) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022, in Glendale, Ariz.
Arizona Coyotes goaltender Karel Vejmelka, middle, makes a save as Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) and Maple Leafs left wing Michael Bunting (58) look for a possible rebound during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022, in Glendale, Ariz.
Arizona Coyotes goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) makes a save as Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) and Arizona Coyotes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (14) crash into Coyotes’ Vejmelka during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022, in Glendale, Ariz.
Arizona Coyotes goaltender Karel Vejmelka makes a save against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022, in Glendale, Ariz.
Arizona Coyotes goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) makes a save as Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Ondrej Kase, right, and Maple Leafs left wing Michael Bunting (58) try to move in on the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022, in Glendale, Ariz.
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The way Karel Vejmelka sees it, staying busy in the net beats inactivity.
Vejmelka stopped 45 shots to help the Arizona Coyotes beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 Wednesday night for just their eighth win of the season.
“It’s always better for a goalie to face so many shots,” the rookie goalie said. “It’s better than to have three, four shots for a period. … I felt really good. My teammates helped me and it was a big game for us today.”
Ryan Dzingel, playing for the first time since Dec. 10, scored twice to give him four goals in 17 games this season to help the Coyotes escape last place overall in the NHL with 19 points — one ahead of Montreal.
Arizona won without coach Andre Tourigny and defensemen Jakob Chychrun and Anton Stralman — all of whom were sidelined in COVID-19 protocols. Also out was goaltender Scott Wedgewood, who shares time with Vejmelka.
Auston Mathews scored his 24th goal of the season for Toronto. With his parents watching from the stands, Matthews — who grew up in nearby Scottsdale — set a Toronto franchise record by scoring a goal in his ninth consecutive road game. He had been tied with Babe Dye, Frank Mahovlich and Daniel Marois.
Matthews’ goal came 14 seconds into the third period, assisted by Michael Bunting and Jake Muzzin. He beat Vejmelka above the left shoulder and the Maple Leafs seemed poised to come back to win.
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