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Thomas, Taffe score as Coyotes upset Ducks

Mar 23, 2007 - 6:58 AM GLENDALE, Arizona (Ticker) -- Two unproven commodities gave the Phoenix Coyotes a rare victory and the Anaheim Ducks a costly defeat.

Jeff Taffe and rookie Bill Thomas scored second-period goals and Curtis Joseph made 22 saves as the Coyotes snapped a four-game losing streak with a surprising 2-1 victory over the Ducks.

With the loss, Anaheim (43-19-12) had its lead in the Pacific Division over second-place San Jose (46-25-4) reduced to two points and fell three behind Nashville (47-21-7) for first in the Western Conference.

"I don't think we generated very much until the end," said Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle, whose team played for the first time since Sunday. "For whatever reason, we didn't have the ability to get inside and create much. We worked hard all week on a couple of things, but it seemed like we had people with no legs tonight. We didn't have the jump."

"They are a really good hockey club and you are going to have games when you don't have your best night," Phoenix coach Wayne Gretzky said of the Ducks. "Maybe tonight wasn't one of their best games."

Carlyle scoffed at the notion his club was looking past the Coyotes to Friday's important home showdown with the Dallas Stars (44-24-5), who trail the Ducks by five points in the Pacific.

"We have had to answer that question too many times," he said. "We can't look past anybody. Tonight wasn't a good game for our hockey club. We play Dallas tomorrow and it is a monumental game for us."

Taffe gave the Coyotes a 1-0 lead when he one-timed captain Shane Doan's pass in the low slot past goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov at 4:43 of the second period. The 26-year-old left wing entered with just 12 goals in 95 career games.

"There wasn't much to it for me," Taffe said. "I was in the right place at the right time. Shane made a great play behind the net. He sucked both guys to him, and that left me open. I saw him glance at me, then he no-looked it right to me. It was a great pass."

Thomas doubled the advantage just over 11 minutes later, when he skated through the low slot and redirected Steven Reinprecht's pass by Bryzgalov. It was the sixth goal of the season and seventh career for the 23-year-old right wing.

Thomas, who was recalled from San Antonio of the American Hockey League on January 28, has three tallies in his last four contests.

"Billy is playing really well right now," Gretzky said. "He is one of the smarter players we have and is always in the right position. You can tell he is a natural goal-scorer."

Travis Moen netted the lone tally and Bryzgalov made 19 saves for the Ducks, who have lost three of their last four contests.

Moen, who snapped an 18-game goalless drought in a 5-3 loss to Los Angeles on Sunday, cut the deficit to 2-1 when he backhanded a rebound past Joseph from the doorstep with 2:33 left in the third period.

Entering with a six-game losing streak in which he allowed 23 goals, Joseph recorded his first victory since making 26 saves in a 3-0 triumph over the Edmonton Oilers on February 27. The veteran netminder notched his 444th career victory, leaving him three shy of tying Hall of Famer Terry Sawchuk for fourth place on the all-time list.

Anaheim's Teemu Selanne, who entered with four goals and nine assists in seven games against the Coyotes this season, had his four-game points streak halted.

The Ducks won the season series against the Coyotes, 6-2-0.