Ilya Bryzgalov shines as the Phoenix Coyotes defeat the Detroit Red Wings
The Phoenix Coyotes snapped a three-game losing streak on Thursday 28 October by defeating the Detroit Red Wings 4-2 at Joe Louis Arena.
How it happened
The Coyotes got off to a great start managing to catch the Red Wings flat footed in the first period and scoring three goals in a five minute spell midway through the period.
Radim Vrbata started things off with his third of the season before Keith Yandle got his second of the season (and second in as many games) on the power play. Lauri Korpikoski got the Coyotes' third when he ripped a wrister past Chris Osgood (in for the
injured Jimmy Howard) while the Coyotes were shorthanded.
From there the Red Wings took over outshooting the Coyotes 34-21 over the second and third periods. Bryzgalov was getting peppered with shots but came up with several key saves to keep the Coyotes in the lead.
The Red Wings got a goal back in the second period when Johan Franzen got his team-leading sixth of the season while the Red Wings were on the power play.
Thomas Holmstrom got a goal early in the third to bring it down to the wire, but with the Red Wings net empty Korpikoski iced the game with his second.
What they're saying
Phoenix head coach Dave Tippett was quick to laud praises on his goalie as his team's forwards struggle to find consistency.
"He gives us a chance to win every time he's in there," Tippett said. "When you look at our top players and their production so far, it hasn't been very good. The margin for error is pretty slim, and he makes sure that margin for error stays close. He's
been the one constant."
After a disappointing first period the Red Wings were forced to play catch up the entire game, and head coach Mike Babcock was not pleased with his team's slow start on home ice.
"You have a better chance of capitalizing on those power plays if you're not down 3-0 and you're not pressing," he said. "Catch-up hockey is losing hockey. That's a fact. You've got to get started on time."
The Phoenix Coyotes (3-3-3) now get set to play their fourth game in six nights, on Saturday 30 October, as they return home to take on the Eastern Conference leading Tampa Bay Lightning (6-2-1).
The Detroit Red Wings (5-2-1) after having their three-game win streak snapped finish their four-game home stand by taking on the Nashville Predators (5-1-3) on Saturday.
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