Phoenix Coyotes beat Atlanta Thrashers 4-3
Ilya Bryzgalov turned away 33 shots as the Phoenix Coyotes managed to hold on for a 4-3 victory against the Atlanta Thrashers on Thursday night.
Lauri Korpikoski and Martin Hanzal each scored a goal for Phoenix, who have won six straight contests. Eric Belanger and Shane Doan both also found the net, while Keith Yandle picked up three assists to seal the victory for the Coyotes.
An excited Doan said after the game, "It was kind of an ugly game. The last two games haven't been exactly the way we want to play at home, but we found ways to win."
Rich Peverley netted a goal and assisted twice for the Thrashers, who have lost six of seven play-offs and are winless in eight trips to Phoenix overall. Chris Thorburn and Andrew Ladd each also tallied a goal, while Ondrej Pavelec made 28 saves in the loss.
Belanger got the Coyotes on the board with a shorthanded goal for a 1-0 lead just four minutes into the game. Still on the power play, Thorburn banked the puck off Bryzgalov to tie the game at 1-1 just five minutes into the opening stanza.
Phoenix then took a one-goal lead at 2-1, with nearly eight and a half minutes left in the same period, as Doan ripped a shot between Pavelec’s legs. However, the Thrashers drew it even at 2-2 again on Ladd's power-play goal just four minutes into the middle
session.
Atlanta went ahead by 3-2 a little over five minutes later, when Peverley fired a wrist shot from the left circle past Bryzgalov. Korpikoski and Hanzal then both notched goals to give the Coyotes a 4-3 lead into the second period. Yandle released a shot
from the point to the net and Korpikoski deflected it home with almost four minutes left in the frame. The goal was upheld following a video review to determine if the puck was tipped in with a high stick.
In the final minute of second period, Ray Whitney sent a nice pass to Hanzal, who knocked the puck home to seal the win at 4-3. Bryzgalov made 11 saves in the final session to secure his side's 25th win of the season.
Phoenix Coach Dave Tippett was pleased with his team's performance. He said after the game, “We found just enough to win, and do what we had to do for the two points. I would like for us to protect the puck better, but getting the two points was very important.”
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