4 things we learned in the NHL: Here comes the Coyotes offence

Vinnie Hinostroza scored twice to help the Coyotes beat the Blackhawks 4-1.

A young team in the desert finally put up a performance worthy of its promise, every team in the NHL has lost at least once, a longtime sniper found the back of the net for the first time this season, and there’s something funny going on in Columbus.

Here are four things we learned in the NHL on Thursday.

The floodgates are open in Arizona

The Arizona Coyotes got off to a pretty toothless start this year, getting shut out in three of their first four games. A 2-1 loss to Minnesota on Tuesday left the club still searching for its first 5-on-5 goal of 2018-19.

Enter Lawson Crouse.

Crouse converted a slick Clayton Keller feed to open the scoring on Thursday, mercifully ending Arizona’s inglorious search for an even-strength tally.

At least they owned it.

But wait, there’s more.

Vinnie Hinostroza, sent to Arizona as part of Chicago’s annual summer salary dump this past July, found the back of the net in his return to the United Center for a second even-strength Coyotes goal. Clayton Keller added insurance late in the third before an empty-netter gave the Coyotes a 4-1 win, with three of those goals coming at 5-on-5.

Not only were they the first such Coyotes goals this year, they were the first goals given up by Chicago Blackhawks netminder Corey Crawford – the two-time all-star was making his much-anticipated return to the crease after missing significant time with a concussion.

Unfortunately for him, he just had to run into the offensive juggernaut that is the Coyotes.

They were due.

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The last of the undefeated has fallen

First the 2001 Stanley Cup Final, and now this.

The Colorado Avalanche once again stuck it to their spiritual ancestors, this time by handing the New Jersey Devils their first loss of the season.

The Devils (which spent six seasons in the ’70s as the Colorado Rockies), fell to 4-1-0, leaving the NHL with zero remaining undefeated teams.

It was a good run.

Nathan MacKinnon – who might as well be the spiritual successor to Joe Sakic – had three assists for the Avalanche, and by the way this is really just an excuse to post a highlight of Sakic stopping New Jersey’s attempt at winning back-to-back Cups 17 years ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jqzMBIQmVc

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Slumping Stamkos is still dangerous when left alone in the slot

Steven Stamkos entered play on Thursday with zero goals in four contests, though there wasn’t much reason to be concerned.

Scoring in the NHL is hard, what with the attention to detail good teams have on defence, which is why a date with the Detroit Red Wings was just what the doctor ordered for the Tampa Bay Lightning captain.

Stamkos and battery mate Nikita Kucherov showed signs of life earlier in the game, connecting for multiple one-timer opportunities.

While Stamkos can score from just about anywhere on the ice, why bother sharpshooting from the corner when you can slip right between the circles so uncovered?

You wonder if Red Wings GM Ken Holland was proud when he saw his defenders pay zero mind to Stamkos right behind them, considering his disdain for looking over his shoulder.

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Something might be up with the ice at Nationwide Arena

You have to wonder if hockey would be more fun if players never got their skates sharpened.

It might not result in the precision and grace we’re used to seeing from some of the greatest athletes in the world, but if that Japanese slippery stairs contest proved anything, it’s that watching people struggle to stay upright while completing a task is tough to beat when it comes to entertainment value.

Which is why whatever went on at the visitors’ end of the rink at Nationwide arena is cool with me.

A breakdown of what that was: Flyers defenceman Christian Folin toe-picked on the breakout, and Blue Jackets forward Josh Anderson picked up the puck before surviving as the last man standing to score, while his 2-on-1 option (Sonny Milano) also took a spill. That it all happened with a desperate Claude Giroux diving onto the ice as well made it even better.

We’re not saying for sure that the Blue Jackets game ops crew spiked the ice in a dastardly plan to gain an edge, but it seems pretty obvious that they did, all things considered.

How else would Anthony Duclair have been so prepared to do this?

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