Blues 1 - 2 Coyotes
Final
  for this game

Bryzgalov, Coyotes edge the Blues

Mar 23, 2011 - 5:23 AM Glendale, AZ (Sports Network) - Ilya Bryzgalov made 29 saves as the Phoenix Coyotes got back on the winning track with a 2-1 victory over St. Louis.

Ray Whitney and Lauri Korpikoski scored second period goals to dig Phoenix out of a 1-0 hole and Bryzgalov did the rest, stopping all 22 shots he faced in the last two periods.

After having their five-game winning streak snapped in a 2-1 loss to Chicago on Sunday, the Coyotes moved within one point of idle San Jose for No. 3 in the Western Conference standings.

Kevin Shattenkirk scored the lone Blues goal while Jaroslav Halak yielded two goals on 23 shots in the loss.

Shattenkirk's goal came at the end of a tic-tac-toe passing play and gave St. Louis a 1-0 lead 8:52 into the game.

Ian Cole sent a pass from above the right circle down low to Chris Stewart on the left side, and Stewart backhanded the puck in front for Shattenkirk to jam it home.

The Coyotes had just seven shots in the first period. Of course, they're a tired bunch.

Before their loss to Chicago on Sunday, the Coyotes played games in Anaheim, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver in just six days, going 4-0 on the road trip. They are 1-1 on a current six-game homestand.

"The reality is we haven't had a full practice in a week now," said Phoenix head coach Dave Tippett. "You're looking at a group of players that's competed really hard. You're looking at some fatigue until you're up and going and into the game."

The Blues kept Phoenix off the board until 8:41 into the second period, when Whitney scored on a one-timer from the low slot after teammate Korpikoski fanned on a shot from the left circle.

Shattenkirk, after scoring in the first period to give St. Louis its lead, was inadvertently responsible for Phoenix's go-ahead goal when Korpikoski's long wrister from the right side deflected off his leg and went in, giving the Coyotes a 2-1 lead with 3:00 remaining in the second period.

Bryzgalov, after making 16 saves in the second period, needed just six stops in the third to preserve the lead. He was lucky in the final minute of the game when a St. Louis shot he appeared not to see went off the left post.

Game Notes

The Coyotes moved three points ahead of idle Los Angeles for the No. 4 spot in the conference...Phoenix's homestand also includes visits from the Blue Jackets, Sharks, Stars and Avalanche...The Blues went 1-3-0 on a four-game road trip and are 13th in the Western Conference.






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