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Vermette lifts Coyotes past Leafs

Nov 5, 2014 - 6:02 AM Glendale, AZ (SportsNetwork.com) - Antoine Vermette's goal in the second period proved to be the winner as the Arizona Coyotes took a 3-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday.

Sam Gagner and Martin Erat also scored for the Coyotes, who have won their past two. Mike Smith stopped 28 shots in the win.

"For the most part it was an improvement and there's still improvement needed, but we're moving in the right direction," said Arizona head coach Dave Tippett.

Dion Phaneuf and Cody Franson had goals for the Maple Leafs, who had a three- game winning streak broken. James Reimer made 30 saves in the loss.

"Terrible start and we just weren't able to overcome it," said Toronto head coach Randy Carlyle. "It seemed like we were in neutral and they were in third gear."

Vermette's goal came on a wraparound from the right side at 6:34 of the second period to extend Arizona's lead to 3-0.

Toronto, though, finally got on the board three minutes later while on the power play as Phaneuf's one-timer from the right point sailed past Smith for his first of the season.

The Maple Leafs made it a one-goal game with another power-play goal in the third, as Franson was able to put home a rebound from the right side with 6:07 left on the clock.

That was it, though, as Toronto was unable to net the equalizer even after pulling Reimer for an extra attacker late in the game.

Arizona scored halfway through the first, as Lauri Korpikoski picked off a Jake Gardiner turnover behind the net and sent a blind backhand pass to the front where Gagner one-timed it in.

The Coyotes took a 2-0 lead with 4:25 to play in the first as Erat's sharp- angle shot from the left side found the back of the net.

Game Notes

Arizona plays in Anaheim on Friday ... Toronto plays in Colorado on Thursday ... Toronto had won the previous two matchups in the series ... Toronto was 2- for-5 on the power play, while Arizona went 0-for-4.