Coyotes end three game losing streak with close 3-2 win over Ottawa Senators - NHL Update
The Ottawa Senators lost their third straight while the Phoenix Coyotes snapped a three game losing streak as they won 3-2 in a tense encounter at the Jobing.com Arena on Tuesday, January 24th, 2012.
Coyotes, who are at the 12 spot in the Western Conference with a 22-20-8 record and 52 points, have been inconsistent throughout the season and three points shy of the final playoff spot.
The victory would do the Coyotes some good and raise confidence in the dressing room, heading into the All-Star weekend.
Senators, who are on their own roller coaster ride this season, have now lost three games in a row since Saturday and now dropped to sixth in the Eastern Conference, with a 27-19-6 record and 60 points.
Coyotes could not have picked a better time to win the game and would make full use of the weekend to rest its exhausted and injury ravaged squad.
"Everybody needs a break," Coyotes' coach, Dave Tippett said.
Tippet added:
"These past two months have been as grueling as I've seen and I've been a long time in the NHL. You could tell our players were worn out mentally and physically. I thought both teams were looking like they needed a break tonight”
Senators' coach, Paul MacLean was not satisfied with his team’s efforts and said that they needed to be more ruthless.
MacLean commented:
"We're not doing enough," coach Paul MacLean said. "We have to play a little bit harder, a little bit smarter and a little bit better, and have the puck more than we had on this trip."
Ottawa outshot the Coyotes by 34-26 during the game but was not able to break through Coyotes' goaltender, Mike Smith, whose brilliant efforts in front of net maintained his team’s advantage.
Coyotes took the lead late in the first period through Gilbert Brule, who took Mikkel Boedker’s pass in his stride, snapping a shot past Senators' goaltender, Craig Anderson, who made 23 saves during the game.
The game went back and forth as the Senators upped the ante pounding Smith’s goal in the second period, but failed to break through as Coyotes doubled their advantage at 16:08.
Shane Doan scored his 15th goal of the season as he beat Anderson after picking up Lauri Korpikoski’s rebounded shot.
The Senators finally broke through a minute later as Daniel Alfredsson beat Smith for his 17th goal of the season to peg back Coyotes' lead to 2-1.
The game was anybody’s for the taking but the Coyotes extended their lead in the third period. At 1:30 Radim Vrbata made it 3-1 with an assist from Ray Whitney.
That two goal lead proved more short-lived than the Coyotes first as the Senators responded just 14 seconds later with Chris Neil scoring for the Canadians.
Senators then laid siege to Smith’s goal, battering shot after shot, but the goaltender was up to the task and helped Coyotes to a well deserved victory with his 32 saves.
The National Hockey League (NHL) will now take a break as the best players from the Eastern and Western conference duel it out in the All-Star game in Ottawa.
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