ARIZONA COYOTES

By the Numbers: Coyotes survive late rally for second straight win

Jan 19, 2014, 3:56 AM | Updated: 3:56 am

After dropping six of their last eight, the Phoenix Coyotes found themselves smack in the middle of a midseason slump.

But they look to have righted the ship — at least for now.

Phoenix jumped out to an early two-goal lead and survived a late rally behind another stellar outing from goaltender Mike Smith, and topped the New Jersey Devils 3-2 at Jobing.com Arena Saturday for their second straight win.

Here’s a look back at the hard-earned win by the numbers:

2:

Phoenix secured wins in back-to-back games for the first time since beating the Colorado Avalanche and New York Islanders on Dec. 10 and 12, respectively.

2:26:

It took the Coyotes just two minutes and 36 seconds to jump out to a 1-0 lead over the Devils, as Jordan Szwarz buried a behind-the-net feed from Kyle Chipchura. Phoenix added a second goal with 6:47 left in the period to take a 2-0 lead.

7:

Martin Hanzal’s power play goal at 14:22 of the second period extended the Coyotes’ streak of games with at least one power play goal to seven. Phoenix is now halfway to its franchise record of 14.

26:

The Coyotes blocked 26 shots from the Devils, a team-high six of which came from defenseman Derek Morris.

32:

Mike Smith made 32 saves, and appears to have rebounded from a rough patch around the time it was announced he made the Canadian team for the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Smith made three saves in the game’s final two minutes, including a game-saver off the stick of Jaromir Jagr.

185:

Szwarz’s goal marked the Coyote’s first even-strength goal in almost 185 minutes. Phoenix hadn’t found the net during even strengh play since Mike Ribeiro scored against Anaheim last Saturday — a span of 184:25.

450:

Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett earned his 450th career NHL win, all coming in four-plus years with the Coyotes and seven seasons with the Dallas Stars.

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