Michael Carcone earns hat trick, Coyotes deliver 8-1 rout over Blackhawks

Witnessing a highly anticipated showdown between top rookies Logan Cooley and Connor Bedard, the crowd was in for a surprise as Arizona Coyotes forward Michael Carcone stole the spotlight.

Carcone, who had limited playing time with the Coyotes over the past two seasons, had a breakout performance with a remarkable hat trick and four points.

“This is definitely an emotional moment for me, and I’m sure it is for my family as well, with my wife, kids, and mother present,” expressed Carcone. “I get to cherish this moment with them and then move on. You can’t dwell on these things; you have to embrace the highs and lows and maintain a balanced mindset.”

In the 8-1 thrashing of the Chicago Blackhawks at Mullett Arena on Monday night, nine different Coyotes forwards contributed to the scoresheet, but surprisingly, none were from the top line.

Bedard ignited excitement early on with a goal in just 28 seconds, but the Coyotes quickly took control of the game after Carcone’s first goal. Josh Brown, Jack McBain, Sean Durzi, and Liam O’Brien all found the back of the net for the Coyotes, with McBain scoring twice. Alex Kerfoot registered his first three points of the season, all on assists.

The Rise of Carcone

Carcone’s journey through the American Hockey League over the past seven seasons has been challenging, but he is now proving to head coach André Tourigny that he belongs in the NHL.

After a six-game stint with the Coyotes last season, Tourigny and Carcone had a conversation to address why Carcone wasn’t a regular in the lineup. For Tourigny, it wasn’t about talent.

“To become a successful NHL player, you need to bring your best every night. By that, I don’t just mean scoring goals. I mean executing every detail, being disciplined in your position, and playing with structure consistently,” explained Tourigny. “That was the criticism surrounding Carcone in the past. He possesses the talent, but can he deliver every night? He understood that, and that’s why he is now an everyday NHL player.”

Carcone not only dazzled with his hat trick, which came at the 5:00 mark in the second period, but he also consistently did the little things right. He drew a slashing penalty from Bedard, halting the Blackhawks’ momentum at the end of the first period.

A Double Hat Trick

Carcone wasn’t the sole Coyotes player to achieve a hat trick in the game.

O’Brien and McBain both accomplished Gordie Howe hat tricks in the second period by scoring a goal, registering an assist, and engaging in a fight. Andrew McBain, Jack’s father, along with Peter Taglianetti, were the last teammates to accomplish this feat in a game for the Coyotes/Winnipeg Jets franchise back in 1988.

“It’s surreal, but I’m certain I’ll check my phone and find a text from my dad about it. It was a remarkable comeback after a tough series,” shared McBain.

Maintaining Momentum

Haunted by their loss on Friday, where they squandered a 4-1 lead, the Coyotes made sure not to repeat those mistakes by undergoing a rigorous practice session the next morning.

The lessons learned from that defeat were evident in Monday’s game as the Coyotes dominated the Blackhawks’ zone and dictated the tempo of the match from Carcone’s first goal. The Coyotes committed fewer penalties in the second period and netted four goals, ultimately leading to goaltender Arvid Soderblom being replaced at 15:26 in the second period.

The Coyotes outshot the Blackhawks 33-30 and showcased more solid defensive play.

“We all woke up that morning knowing what happened in that game, and we couldn’t collapse like that in the third period,” stated Carcone. “As a young team that’s learning, we didn’t watch video. We just put in the hard work, and here we are. Sometimes, simplicity and hard work are all you need.”

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Michael Carcone earns hat trick, Coyotes win 8-1 rout vs. Blackhawks