Washington Capitals back on track after 4-3 win over Phoenix Coyotes -NHL Match Update
With four straight losses in the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season, the Washington Capitals were on their way to dropping into the lower half of the Eastern Conference rankings but got right back on track as they toppled the Phoenix Coyotes,
4-3, Monday night, November 21, 2011, at the Verizon Center in Washington, District of Columbia, United States.
"It's always fun to be back on track," Washington centre, Nicklas Backstrom, said. "It makes it much easier if you win hockey games to come to practice the next morning and smile a little bit more."
Washington is still on the playoff line with 23 points, sitting at number eight in the East, tied with the New York Rangers. The Ottawa Senators are just one point away with either tying them and taking them over if they win their next matchup.
Radim Vrbata scored his ninth of the regular season 4:33 into the opening period shorthanded as the Coyotes lost Lauri Korpikoski to a minor penalty for tripping.
Korpikoski came out strong in the second 20 minute round by potting his fourth for another Phoenix shorthanded goal, this time with Derek Morris on the bench for hooking nearly midway through.
John Carlson finally put the Capitals on the scoreboard unassisted on a breakaway opportunity after Phoenix’s second straight of the night. Cody Eakin was the one to level the match nearly three minutes later, forcing an intense third period competition
with both teams tied.
Nicklas Backstrom and Brooks Laich scored two straight within the opening seven minutes of the third and final period to take the lead and widening the gap to allow the Washington Capitals to eventually take the match.
Korpikoski scored his second of the night and brought the Coyotes within one of the score with less than nine minutes left to play, but Phoenix could not manage to get another past Tomas Vokoun.
"I think any kind of win when you've lost four games in a row is what you want," Washington coach, Bruce Boudreau, said. "So we'll take anything."
Washington has the next at home against the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday while the Coyotes also host the Anaheim Ducks the same day.
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