2020–21 Arizona Coyotes season explained

The 2020–21 Arizona Coyotes season was the 42nd season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on June 22, 1979, the 25th season since the franchise relocated from Winnipeg following the 1995–96 NHL season,^[1] and the 49th overall, including the World Hockey Association years. This would have been the final year of the Coyotes being in the Pacific Division in the 2020–21 season before the new NHL expansion team the Seattle Kraken enters into the Pacific Division in the 2021–22 NHL season.^[2] However, on December 20, 2020, the league temporarily realigned into four divisions with no conferences due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing closure of the Canada–United States border. As a result of this realignment, the Coyotes played this season in the West Division and only played games against the other teams in their new division during the regular season.

On May 5, 2021, the Coyotes were eliminated from playoff contention after a 4–2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings.^[3]

Standings

Divisional standings

Schedule and results

Regular season

The regular season schedule was announced on December 23, 2020.^[4]

2020–21 game log
January: 3–4–1 (Home: 3–2–1 ; Road: 0–2–0) Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 January 14 4–3 Arizona SO 2,274 0–0–1 1 ^[5] 2 January 16 San Jose 3–5 Arizona 2,384 1–0–1 3 ^[6] 3 January 18 Arizona 2–4 Kuemper 0 1–1–1 3 ^[7] 4 January 20 Arizona 2–5 Vegas Kuemper 0 1–2–1 3 ^[8] 5 January 22 Vegas 2–5 Arizona Kuemper 2,712 2–2–1 5 ^[9] 6 January 24 Vegas 1–0 Arizona Kuemper 2,672 2–3–1 5 ^[10] 7 January 26 1–0 Arizona Kuemper 1,808 2–4–1 5 ^[11] 8 January 28 Anaheim 2–3 Arizona Kuemper 2,252 3–4–1 7 ^[12]
February: 6–5–2 (Home: 3–4–2 ; Road: 3–1–0) Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 9 February 2 Arizona 3–4 1,400 3–5–1 7 ^[13] 10 February 4 Arizona 4–3 St. Louis — 4–5–1 9 ^[14] — February 6 Arizona – Postponed due to COVID-19.^[15] Rescheduled for March 16.^[16] 11 February 6 Arizona 3–1 St. Louis Kuemper — 5–5–1 11 ^[17] — February 7 Arizona – Minnesota Postponed due to COVID-19. Rescheduled for April 14. 12 February 8 Arizona 4–3 St. Louis SO Kuemper — 6–5–1 13 ^[18] — February 9 Arizona – Postponed due to COVID-19.^[19] Rescheduled for March 31. — February 11 Arizona – Colorado Postponed due to COVID-19. Rescheduled for April 12. 13 February 12 St. Louis 4–1 Arizona Kuemper 2,457 6–6–1 13 ^[20] 14 February 13 St. Louis 5–4 Arizona OT Raanta 3,237 6–6–2 14 ^[21] 15 February 15 St. Louis 0–1 Arizona Kuemper 2,554 7–6–2 16 ^[22] 16 February 18 3–2 Arizona SO Kuemper 2,281 7–6–3 17 ^[23] 17 February 20 Los Angeles 4–2 Arizona Kuemper 3,187 7–7–3 17 ^[24] 18 February 22 3–4 Arizona Kuemper 2,346 8–7–3 19 ^[25] 19 February 24 Anaheim 3–4 Arizona SO 2,319 9–7–3 21 ^[26] 20 February 26 Colorado 3–2 Arizona Hill 2,495 9–8–3 21 ^[27] 21 February 27 Colorado 6–2 Arizona Raanta 3,224 9–9–3 21 ^[28]
March: 7–6–2 (Home: 4–2–0 ; Road: 3–4–2) Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 22 March 3 Arizona 3–2 0 10–9–3 23 ^[29] 23 March 5 5–1 Arizona Raanta 2,541 10–10–3 23 ^[30] 24 March 6 Minnesota 2–5 Arizona 3,141 11–10–3 25 ^[31] 25 March 8 Arizona 3–2 Raanta 0 12–10–3 27 ^[32] 26 March 10 Arizona 1–2 Colorado OT Raanta 0 12–10–4 28 ^[33] 27 March 12 Arizona 0–4 Minnesota 0 12–11–4 28 ^[34] 28 March 14 Arizona 1–4 Minnesota Raanta 0 12–12–4 28 ^[35] 29 March 16 Arizona 0–3 Minnesota Hill 0 12–13–4 28 ^[36] 30 March 18 Arizona 2–3 OT Hill 0 12–13–5 29 ^[37] 31 March 20 Arizona 5–1 Anaheim Raanta 0 13–13–5 31 ^[38] 32 March 22 Colorado 5–1 Arizona Raanta 2,593 13–14–5 31 ^[39] 33 March 23 Colorado 4–5 Arizona SO Hill 2,539 14–14–5 33 ^[40] 34 March 26 2–5 Arizona Hill 3,007 15–14–5 35 ^[41] 35 March 27 San Jose 0–4 Arizona Hill 3,217 16–14–5 37 ^[42] 36 March 31 Arizona 3–9 Colorado Hill 0 16–15–5 37 ^[43]
April: 6–9–0 (Home: 2–2–0 ; Road: 4–7–0) Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 37 April 2 Arizona 4–2 0 17–15–5 39 ^[44] 38 April 4 Arizona 3–2 Anaheim OT Hill 0 18–15–5 41 ^[45] 39 April 5 Arizona 5–2 Hill 0 19–15–5 43 ^[46] 40 April 7 Arizona 3–4 Los Angeles Hill 0 19–16–5 43 ^[47] 41 April 9 Arizona 4–7 Hill 3,950 19–17–5 43 ^[48] 42 April 11 Arizona 0–1 Vegas Hill 3,950 19–18–5 43 ^[49] 43 April 12 Arizona 2–4 Colorado 4,042 19–19–5 43 ^[50] 44 April 14 Arizona 2–5 Minnesota 3,000 19–20–5 43 ^[51] 45 April 17 2–3 Arizona 3,981 20–20–5 45 ^[52] 46 April 19 5–2 Arizona Kuemper 3,481 20–21–5 45 ^[53] 47 April 21 Minnesota 4–1 Arizona Kuemper 3,736 20–22–5 45 ^[54] 48 April 24 Arizona 4–0 Los Angeles Kuemper 1,497 21–22–5 47 ^[55] 49 April 26 Arizona 4–6 Hill 520 21–23–5 47 ^[56] 50 April 28 Arizona 2–4 San Jose Kuemper 1,037 21–24–5 47 ^[57] 51 April 30 Vegas 0–3 Arizona Hill 5,111 22–24–5 49 ^[58]
May: 2–2–1 (Home: 0–2–1 ; Road: 2–0–0) Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 52 May 1 3–2 Arizona OT 5,671 22–24–6 50 ^[59] 53 May 3 3–2 Arizona Kuemper 4,983 22–25–6 50 ^[60] 54 May 5 Los Angeles 4–2 Arizona 6,964 22–26–6 50 ^[61] 55 May 7 Arizona 5–2 Kuemper 1,145 23–26–6 52 ^[62] 56 May 8 Arizona 5–4 San Jose OT Hill 1,249 24–26–6 54 ^[63]
Legend:

Draft picks

See also: List of Arizona Coyotes draft picks. Below are the Arizona Coyotes' selections at the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, which was originally scheduled for June 26–27, 2020 at the Bell Center in Montreal, Quebec, but was postponed on March 25, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The draft was held October 6–7, 2020 virtually via Video conference call from the NHL Network studio in Secaucus, New Jersey.

Round		Player	Pos	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
2	49	Forfeited pick
4	111	Mitchell Miller (renounced)	D	United States	Tri-City Storm (USHL)
5	142	Carson Bantle	LW	United States	Michigan Tech (WCHA)
6	173	Filip Barklund	C	Sweden	Orebro Jr. (J20 SuperElit)
7	192	Elliot Ekefjard	RW	Sweden	Malmö Redhawks Jr. (J20 SuperElit)
7	204	Ben McCartney	LW	Canada	Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

Draft notes

Notes and References

1. Book: National Hockey League. The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2014. 2013. Diamond Sports Data, Inc.. 105. 978-1-894801-26-3.
2. Web site: Kaplan. Emily. Seattle gets NHL expansion team, to debut in 2021–22 season. ESPN.com. December 12, 2018. December 4, 2018.
3. Web site: Coyotes eliminated from playoff contention with loss to Kings . NHL.com . May 6, 2021 . May 6, 2021.
4. Web site: 2020-21 NHL schedule announced . NHL.com . December 24, 2020 . December 23, 2020.
5. Web site: San Jose Sharks - Arizona Coyotes - January 14th, 2021. NHL.com.
6. Web site: San Jose Sharks - Arizona Coyotes - January 16th, 2021. NHL.com.
7. Web site: Arizona Coyotes - Vegas Golden Knights - January 18th, 2021. NHL.com.
8. Web site: Arizona Coyotes - Vegas Golden Knights - January 20th, 2021. NHL.com.
9. Web site: Vegas Golden Knights - Arizona Coyotes - January 22nd, 2021. NHL.com.
10. Web site: Vegas Golden Knights - Arizona Coyotes - January 24th, 2021. NHL.com.
11. Web site: Anaheim Ducks - Arizona Coyotes - January 26th, 2021. NHL.com.
12. Web site: Anaheim Ducks - Arizona Coyotes - January 28th, 2021. NHL.com.
13. Web site: Arizona Coyotes - St. Louis Blues - February 2nd, 2021. NHL.com.
14. Web site: Arizona Coyotes - St. Louis Blues - February 4th, 2021. NHL.com.
15. Web site: Wild have four games postponed; players added to NHL COVID-19 protocol . NHL.com . February 3, 2021 . February 3, 2021.
16. Web site: NHL announces updates to regular-season schedule . NHL.com . February 17, 2021 . February 16, 2021.
17. Web site: Arizona Coyotes - St. Louis Blues - February 6th, 2021. NHL.com.
18. Web site: Arizona Coyotes - St. Louis Blues - February 8th, 2021. NHL.com.
19. Web site: Avalanche have four more games postponed due to COVID-19 protocol . NHL.com . February 4, 2021 . February 4, 2021.
20. Web site: St. Louis Blues - Arizona Coyotes - February 12th, 2021. NHL.com.
21. Web site: St. Louis Blues - Arizona Coyotes - February 13th, 2021. NHL.com.
22. Web site: St. Louis Blues - Arizona Coyotes - February 15th, 2021. NHL.com.
23. Web site: Los Angeles Kings - Arizona Coyotes - February 18th, 2021. NHL.com.
24. Web site: Los Angeles Kings - Arizona Coyotes - February 20th, 2021. NHL.com.
25. Web site: Anaheim Ducks - Arizona Coyotes - February 22nd, 2021. NHL.com.
26. Web site: Anaheim Ducks - Arizona Coyotes - February 24th, 2021. NHL.com.
27. Web site: Colorado Avalanche - Arizona Coyotes - February 26th, 2021. NHL.com.
28. Web site: Colorado Avalanche - Arizona Coyotes - February 27th, 2021. NHL.com.
29. Web site: Arizona Coyotes - Los Angeles Kings - March 3rd, 2021. NHL.com.
30. Web site: Minnesota Wild - Arizona Coyotes - March 5th, 2021. NHL.com.
31. Web site: Minnesota Wild - Arizona Coyotes - March 6th, 2021. NHL.com.
32. Web site: Arizona Coyotes - Colorado Avalanche - March 8th, 2021. NHL.com.
33. Web site: Arizona Coyotes - Colorado Avalanche - March 10th, 2021. NHL.com.
34. Web site: Arizona Coyotes - Minnesota Wild - March 12th, 2021. NHL.com.
35. Web site: Arizona Coyotes - Minnesota Wild - March 14th, 2021. NHL.com.
36. Web site: Arizona Coyotes - Minnesota Wild - March 16th, 2021. NHL.com.
37. Web site: Arizona Coyotes - Anaheim Ducks - March 18th, 2021. NHL.com.
38. Web site: Arizona Coyotes - Anaheim Ducks - March 20th, 2021. NHL.com.
39. Web site: Colorado Avalanche - Arizona Coyotes - March 22nd, 2021. NHL.com.
40. Web site: Colorado Avalanche - Arizona Coyotes - March 23rd, 2021. NHL.com.
41. Web site: San Jose Sharks - Arizona Coyotes - March 26th, 2021. NHL.com.
42. Web site: San Jose Sharks - Arizona Coyotes - March 27th, 2021. NHL.com.
43. Web site: Arizona Coyotes - Colorado Avalanche - March 31st, 2021. NHL.com.
44. Web site: Arizona Coyotes - Anaheim Ducks - April 2nd, 2021. NHL.com.
45. Web site: Arizona Coyotes - Anaheim Ducks - April 4th, 2021. NHL.com.
46. Web site: Arizona Coyotes - Los Angeles Kings - April 5th, 2021. NHL.com.
47. Web site: Arizona Coyotes - Los Angeles Kings - April 7th, 2021. NHL.com.
48. Web site: Arizona Coyotes - Vegas Golden Knights - April 9th, 2021. NHL.com.
49. Web site: Arizona Coyotes - Vegas Golden Knights - April 11th, 2021. NHL.com.
50. Web site: Arizona Coyotes - Colorado Avalanche - April 12th, 2021. NHL.com.
51. Web site: Arizona Coyotes - Minnesota Wild - April 14th, 2021. NHL.com.
52. Web site: St. Louis Blues - Arizona Coyotes - April 17th, 2021. NHL.com.
53. Web site: Minnesota Wild - Arizona Coyotes - April 19th, 2021. NHL.com.
54. Web site: Minnesota Wild - Arizona Coyotes - April 21st, 2021. NHL.com.
55. Web site: Arizona Coyotes - Los Angeles Kings - April 24th, 2021. NHL.com.
56. Web site: Arizona Coyotes - San Jose Sharks - April 26th, 2021. NHL.com.
57. Web site: Arizona Coyotes - San Jose Sharks - April 28th, 2021. NHL.com.
58. Web site: Vegas Golden Knights - Arizona Coyotes - April 30th, 2021. NHL.com.
59. Web site: Vegas Golden Knights - Arizona Coyotes - May 1st, 2021. NHL.com.
60. Web site: Los Angeles Kings - Arizona Coyotes - May 3rd, 2021. NHL.com.
61. Web site: Los Angeles Kings - Arizona Coyotes - May 5th, 2021. NHL.com.
62. Web site: Arizona Coyotes - San Jose Sharks - May 7th, 2021. NHL.com.
63. Web site: Arizona Coyotes - San Jose Sharks - May 8th, 2021. NHL.com.