The surprising Phoenix Coyotes will try for their third
straight victory tonight when they host the Boston Bruins at Jobing.com Arena.
The Coyotes had a tumultuous offseason as the club has been trying to secure
new ownership since Jerry Moyes filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy back in May.
The club also saw head coach Wayne Gretzky resign just a week before the
season.
Still, all Phoenix has done so far is win four out of its first six games of
the season and the club is currently tied with Los Angeles for first place in
the Pacific Division.
The Coyotes are coming off a dramatic victory their last time out, as they
notched an overtime victory Thursday against visiting St. Louis. Ed Jovanovski
scored 3:37 into the extra session to lift Phoenix to the 3-2 decision.
Shane Doan scored on the power play and Scottie Upshall also tallied for the
Coyotes. Ilya Bryzgalov made 22 saves in the win, Phoenix's first at home this
season.
In the overtime, Vernon Fiddler shot the puck from a sharp angle on the left
side. Chris Mason made the save, but the puck bounced in the air in front.
Jovanovski came charging down the slot and deflected the disc with the shaft of
his stick past an out-of-position netminder. Officials spent a couple of
minutes using video to review the goal, but ultimately decided to let the score
stand.
"There was a little breakdown down low and I just decided to barge the net and
it went off my shaft," said Jovanovski. "Any time they take over a minute you
get a little antsy. They were looking at it. It was a good goal, we'll take the
two points."
Tonight's contest marks the second segment on a four-game homestand for the
Coyotes, who are 1-1-0 as the host this year.
The Bruins, meanwhile, have alternated losses and wins so far this year and are
3-3-0 through six games. Boston earned a road victory Friday evening in Dallas,
as Tim Thomas picked up his first shutout of the season with 27 saves to lead
the Bruins to a 3-0 decision.
Marc Savard scored twice and Patrice Bergeron netted the other goal for the
Bruins, who have won two of the last three games. Bergeron also notched an
assist in the win.
Boston was coming off a 2-3-0 subpar season-opening homestand that ended Monday
with a 4-3 defeat by Colorado. Thomas, the reigning Vezina Trophy winner, was
just 1-2-0 with a 4.00 goals against average in three starts coming in to
Friday. He had sat the previous two games in favor of backup Tuukka Rask.
"I was able to find the puck, partially because we played the way we wanted to
play, the way we were playing for a good chunk of last season," Thomas said.
"Pressuring them while still being under control."
After playing just their second road game of the year tonight, the Bruins will
return to Beantown for Wednesday's test against Nashville. Boston is without
Dennis Wideman for this two-game road trip as the defenseman did not travel
with the club because of a left shoulder injury.
Phoenix beat the Bruins in Boston last year and is 3-1 with a tie in the last
five encounters between the clubs. Tonight's game marks the only meeting of the
season between these clubs.
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