Coyotes 4 - 5 Canucks
Final - OT
  for this game

Bieksa's OT strike upstages Vermette hat trick

Jan 27, 2014 - 4:41 AM Vancouver, BC (SportsNetwork.com) - Kevin Bieksa's second goal of the night, coming at 2:15 of overtime, lifted Vancouver over Phoenix, 5-4, at Rogers Arena.

The hosts failed to convert on a power play awarded when Phoenix defenseman Derek Morris was sent off for cross checking with 11 seconds left in regulation. Shortly after the advantage expired, Bieksa followed up a Brad Richardson shot from the left wing and popped the rebound under the crossbar and in for the winner.

"We found a way to win, but we have to do a better job of being consistent," Bieksa noted.

Chris Higgins posted three points on a goal and two assists, and Zac Dalpe added a score and a helper for the Canucks, who have won three of their last four.

Jannik Hansen also lit the lamp, while Roberto Luongo came up with 29 saves.

Antoine Vermette hit the back of the net three times for the Coyotes, who stumbled to their seventh loss in 10 contests. Shane Doan scored and David Moss contributed two assists.

Mike Smith allowed all five goals on just 20 shots in the setback.

"We played well enough to get two (points) tonight, but in the NHL you can't give up 5 goals and expect to win," stated Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett.

Bieksa and Hansen tallied in a 44-second span just after the midway point of the first period. The former scored on a floater from the left-wing boards, and the latter on a one-timer off a 3-on-2 break.

Vermette answered for the visitors only 18 seconds later and the visitors went to intermission down 2-1.

Kyle Chipchura appeared to have tied the game early in the second, but the goal was waved off on the ice, and then a replay revealed the puck was directed in with his skate.

Phoenix did tie the score when Vermette followed his own shot and fluttered one over a fallen Luongo for a short-handed tally with 9:07 played in the frame.

Higgins and Dalpe beat Smith in a 42-second span late in the period, but Vermette capped his trifecta on a power-play strike that resulted from a Doan dish atop the crease inside of a minute left.

"We've been talking about bounces lately. Hopefully it's a sign things are going to turn around," Vermette added.

Doan evened the score while skating in alone, scoring on a shot through Luongo's pads despite losing control of the puck at 5:24 of the third.

"It was a strange game. Bizarre. We were fortunate to get two points," said Canucks interim head coach Mike Sullivan.

Game Notes

Both of the Canucks' wins over the Coyotes this season have occurred in overtime, with Sunday's triumph following as 3-2 decision in OT on Dec. 6 ... Vermette picked up his third career hat trick and second this season, after scoring three times in a 4-3 win over Ottawa on Dec. 21.






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