Connor Murphy had time, chose his target and let fly of a slap shot for what would be his first career NHL goal.
The Phoenix Coyotes rookie defenseman, playing in his first ever NHL game, beat Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Anders Lindback with a perfect shot through traffic with less than three minutes remaining in the second period to restore his team’s three-goal lead at the time.
His teammate Martin Hanzal provided the screen in front. Murphy is the Coyotes’ first-round pick, 20th overall, from the 2011 NHL Draft.
Just 50 seconds later, Tampa Bay Lightning forward J.T. Brown scored his first career NHL goal to cut the Coyotes’ lead to two goals.
