‘Yotes Notes: Vermette, Coyotes post third straight shootout win
Nov 6, 2013, 5:50 AM | Updated: 3:26 pm
The Phoenix Coyotes won their third straight shootout Tuesday night when they took down the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 at Jobing.com Arena.
The Coyotes jumped out to a 1-0 lead on their first shot of the game only to watch the Canucks fight their way back and take a 2-1 edge in the second period.
Captain Shane Doan evened things up in the second with an absolute bullet that beat Roberto Luongo’s glove.
The third period and overtime could not break the deadlock, so the game was settled in a shootout. Radim Vrbata and Antoine Vermette scored for Phoenix, who eventually triumphed in the sixth round.
In the end, the Coyotes left the ice Tuesday with a 3-2 win over yet another Pacific Division rival and a five-game win streak.
THE GOOD:
The Coyotes jumped out to an early lead. Martin Hanzal created a turnover on the forecheck and threw it at the net. Radim Vrbata was right there and put a beautiful redirect past Canucks goalie Robert Luongo. It was Phoenix’s first shot of the game.
The Coyotes’ power play looked great, despite not scoring. Thanks to plenty of movement and creative passes, the Coyotes were able to create a lot of chances on the back door.
THE BAD:
Phoenix gave up its early lead far too easily at the beginning of the second period. Just a few seconds into the period, Canucks defender Dan Hamhuis sent a high shot towards Mike Smith’s net. The Phoenix netminder didn’t have a chance.
HE SAID IT:
“We’ll take the points. It’s a game of inches…It was a tight game. It was the game we kind of expected…It was a tight, hard-fought battle and in a shootout anything can happen.” – Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett on his team’s narrow win.
NOTED:
– Coyotes defenseman Derek Morris left the game at the end of the first period with a lower-body injury and did not return. He was on a three-game point streak prior to the injury. Head coach Dave Tippett is unsure if Morris will be available for the next game.
– The Coyotes are still undefeated at home in regulation this season. They have a 7-0-1 at Jobing.com Arena.
– Tuesday was the third straight Coyotes game that went to a shootout. Phoenix beat both the Nashville and San Jose in a shootout prior to the win over Vancouver.
– The Coyotes are on a five-game win streak thanks to Tuesday’s win.
UP NEXT:
The Coyotes are right back at it Wednesday night in Anaheim for a matchup with the Ducks. The puck drops at 8 p.m. and the game can be heard on 860 AM.
