It was just over five minutes before the end of the match when Clayton Keller fell after contact with Nicolas Meloch and crashed into the guardrail with his feet first. The Coyotes’ star forward was evidently very shaken and in pain. It was obvious that he had suffered an injury that did not allow him to rise from the ice.
–
To the applause of all present, he had to leave the ice on a stretcher. “We know it will be a long-term injury. But he’ll get away with it. But now it’s not about missing a player, it’s about the man himself. About Kells as a person. He’s a tough fighter. It is extremely difficult to see him in pain, “said Arizona coach André Tourigny after the match.
–
Keller, whose mother was in the auditorium during the match, indicated with at least a thumbs-up that everything would turn out well.
–
The match was then difficult for its first star, Jan Jeník, who scored two goals. The second one was victorious.
–
“There was a lot of emotion in that match. I’m glad we came out of it, but we also lost our best player, “he lamented after his seventh NHL game, scoring four goals so far, all against the Sharks.
–
Arizona striker Clayton Keller after an unpleasant collision with the guardrail.Photo: Mark J. Rebilas, Reuters
“I always put 200 percent into it to prove that I deserve a chance,” said the 21-year-old Czech forward, who was called from the AHL farm on Monday. For the third time this season.
–
The match was also extremely successful for goalkeeper Karel Vejmelek, who fired only two of the 42 shots behind him and boasted a success rate of 95.2 percent.
–
“Vejmelka was visibly their best player. We had many chances, but the difference was that they were able to take advantage of our mistakes. Unlike us, “lamented San Jose coach Bob Boughner.
–
He, too, commented on Keller’s unfortunate impact: “I know there was some contact (with Sharks defender Meloch) a few seconds before he fell. He seemed to have lost his balance a little. He fell pretty badly there. He’s not looking at anything like that at all. “
—
