Radim Vrbata netted the lone goal in the
shootout, as the surprising Phoenix Coyotes defeated the Anaheim Ducks, 3-2,
at Jobing.com Arena.
Robert Lang and Vernon Fiddler scored in regulation for the Coyotes, who have
won three straight and seven of their last nine games overall. Ilya Bryzgalov
made 32 saves in the win.
Corey Perry and Teemu Selanne lit the lamp for the Ducks, who have dropped
five of six. Jonas Hiller finished with 30 stops in defeat.
"We got ourselves a lead and then we give up a goal 18 seconds later, which
could be a back-breaker," said Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle. "But I thought
we battled back and we got ourselves to the shootout. It's not so much about
the loss; we're not going to lament the loss. We're not going to get too low
with a shootout loss."
Vrbata beat Hiller on the backhand to begin the extra segment, and Bryzgalov
turned away Anaheim's trio of Perry, Ryan Getzlaf and Selanne.
Lang opened the scoring via the power play 3:52 into the contest, but Perry
answered on the man advantage at 8:01 of the second period.
Selanne blasted a slap shot that slipped between the right arm and torso of
Bryzgalov at 10:13 of the third, but Fiddler countered 18 seconds later when
he positioned himself at the side of the net and redirected a feed from Sami
Lepisto behind Hiller.
"I just tried to get open at the side of the net and Sami had his head up and
made an unbelievable play," Fiddler said.
Game Notes
Bryzgalov appeared in his 200th career game...Perry has four goals and four
assists in his last five games...Phoenix hosts the Kings on Monday...Anaheim
begins a three-game homestand Tuesday against the Penguins.
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