Raanta's 1st shutout with Coyotes continues strong start to 2018

The Arizona Coyotes are finally getting the kind of goaltending they were hoping for out of Antti Raanta.

Acquired last summer to replace longtime starter Mike Smith, Raanta's tenure in the desert got off to a rough start with an early-season injury that was followed by a scorpion infestation and a recent car accident.

His luck, however, appears to be turning.

In 15 starts since Jan. 1, Raanta has posted a record of 7-3-4 and a .937 save percentage, including his first shutout of the season, the result of a 39-save effort against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.

Raanta is in the final year of a contract that pays him a scant $1 million, and his recent play could make him attractive to other teams in advance of the Feb. 26 trade deadline. Coyotes general manager John Chayka might want to make sure he sticks around for a while longer.