Blue Jackets Beat Coyotes 2-0

GLENDALE, Ariz.—Rick Nash and R.J. Umberger scored goals, Mathieu Garon stopped 36 shots and the Columbus Blue Jackets beat Phoenix 2-0 on Saturday night in the Coyotes’ home opener.

Nash scored an even-strength goal midway through the first period and Umberger iced the game with an empty-netter with 17 seconds left.

Phoenix had a chance to tie early in the third period, when Columbus center Derick Brassard drew blood with a high stick to the forehead of Coyotes defenseman Keith Yandle, resulting in a 4-minute penalty. But the Blue Jackets killed off that penalty, and the Coyotes didn’t threaten again.

It was Garon’s third career shutout of the Coyotes, his first with Columbus.

The Coyotes’ future in the desert has been uncertain since owner Jerry Moyes filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May. deflating interest and ticket sales.

Desperate to sell tickets for the opener, the Coyotes slashed prices to $25 for prime tickets in the lower bowl, a reduction of more than $150 for some seats. They also cut prices to $15 in the upper deck, where tickets normally range from $15-$40.

The result was a rare sellout of 17,561. Fans received white T-shirts when they entered Jobing.com Arena as team officials tried to create a “whiteout” in the crowd of about 17,000.

But the emotion in the building didn’t help the Coyotes. Nash’s early goal took the crowd out of the game.

The Coyotes don’t have a lot of offensive firepower, but they adopted a defense-first approach under new coach Dave Tippett, hired when Wayne Gretzky quit nine days before the opener. The Coyotes had allowed a total of five goals in their first three games, two of them victories.

Phoenix’s defense was strong against Columbus. But the Coyotes wasted numerous scoring chances and went 0 for 7 on the power play.
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