Phoenix Coyotes lose fifth straight with 3-2 defeat to Minnesota Wild - NHL Update
Phoenix Coyotes’ third period fight back got them back into the game but could not stop them from losing out on two points after a 3-2 defeat to the Minnesota Wild on Thursday, March 8, 2012 at the Jobing.com Arena.
The loss was even more painful for the Coyotes who dominated the majority of the game and outshot the visiting Minnesota by 41-24.
However, the Wild held on after taking a surprising 2-0 lead early in the first period and nullified the Coyotes attacking threat in the second period.
Wild goaltender, Josh Harding, kept the Coyotes offence at bay for two whole periods of the game but succumbed to injury and was replaced by Matt Hackett.
With Harding no longer guarding Minnesota’s goal, the Coyotes went all out on the replacement goaltender and put the game on level pegging early in the third.
However, Hackett shutout the Coyotes for the rest of the final period and the game was sent to overtime.
The game went to a shootout after both teams failed to take advantage in overtime.
Hackett stopped Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s effort to keep Minnesota in the game and Dany Heatley stepped up next to beat Coyotes goaltender, Jason LaBarbera, to give his team all two points.
Wild coach, Mike Yeo, was relieved with the victory that ended Minnesota’s five game losing run. He said after the game that.
"Phoenix played like a desperate team,"
Coyotes coach, Dave Tippett, was unhappy that his offensive line could not make their huge shot advantage count and said that his team should have been more clinical in front of goal.
"We had over 80 attempts at the net, and you need to make some of these count. You can't put yourself in holes like that. That's a recipe for disaster, and that's not the first time we've seen that."
Minnesota started off the more clinical in front of the net. Outshot by Phoenix in the first period by 16-9 the Wild scored twice against the run of play to build up a 2-0 lead.
Both goals came just a minute apart from the other as Kyle Brodziak and Steve Kampfer got on the score sheet.
Phoenix tried to get back into the game but were faced down by Harding who made save after save in the second period to deny the Coyotes who outshot their opponents 16-6.
However, Harding got a lower body injury during the second period and had to be replaced by Hackett.
Phoenix finally scored in the third period as Raffi Torres and Lauri Korpikoski both scored goals to bring the game at level pegging.
Minnesota will now look to build on this win at home ice on Sunday against Calgary Flames while the Coyotes will want to end their losing run against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday.
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