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Mueller guides Coyotes past Kings

Dec 6, 2007 - 6:36 AM By Bob Huhn PA Sportsticker Contributing Writer

GLENDALE, Arizona (Ticker) -- A trip back home and a visit from the Los Angeles Kings were just what the Phoenix Coyotes needed.

Rookie Peter Mueller scored a goal and set up two others as the Coyotes snapped a four-game losing streak with a 4-1 triumph over the Kings on Wednesday night in a Pacific Division matchup.

Steven Reinprecht added a goal and an assist for Phoenix, which has won three straight contests and four of its last five at Jobing.com Arena.

"We did a lot of things we really wanted to concentrate on tonight," Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky said. "We only took two penalties, which is really good. We got the puck in deep tonight and our role players were really good."

The Coyotes, who registered just five goals over their four-game road trip, grabbed a 1-0 lead midway through the first period. Reinprecht wound up to take a slap shot from the right face off circle but instead slid a wrister under goaltender Jean-Sebastien Aubin's glove with 8:49 remaining.

On the play, Mueller recorded his first assist since November 10, a span of 10 games.

Phoenix doubled its lead with 5:28 left in the opening session with a power-play goal by Radim Vrbata, who tipped in a rebound for his team-leading 10th tally of the season, making it 2-0.

Los Angeles took advantage of a too-many-men-on-the-ice penalty when Michael Cammalleri scooped up a rebound and fired a shot past sprawling netminder Ilya Bryzgalov with 2:51 remaining in the first for his 13th goal, halving the deficit.

"We have to do a better job, but we can't disrespect them. They have done a good job against us," Cammalleri said. "We have scored only two goals against them, and we need to get more support for our goalie."

Phoenix regained its two-goal advantage with 8:57 left in the second period as Mueller flipped a rebound into an open net to provide a 3-1 advantage.

It capped the second career three-point game for the 19-year-old center, who recorded a hat trick on November 7 against Anaheim.

"It was simple," Mueller said. "We put the puck on net, Reinprecht got the tip and it hit the goalie's pad and was laying right there."

Mueller has eight goals and 14 points this season.

"He is a good kid and works hard every day," Gretzky said. "You can see what he can do offensively. He makes a lot of tough plays look pretty easy because he is so good with the puck."

Captain Shane Doan sealed the victory with an empty-netter with just 43 seconds remaining in the contest, providing the final margin.

Bryzgalov, who was claimed off waivers from Anaheim on November 17 and immediately led the Coyotes to four straight wins before losing his next four starts, stopped 28 shots.

"Nobody wants to lose and have the streak go up and up," Bryzgalov said. "I hope this game puts us back on track. We have to play smart - no turnovers, create some chances and stay out of the box."

Aubin made 36 saves for the Kings, who are 2-7-2 in their last 11 games.

"Tonight, while our effort wasn't in question, we are capable of better," Kings coach Marc Crawford said. "We've got to be quicker to pucks, we have to be stronger on loose pucks. We needed to play a very straightforward game tonight, and they took advantage of the limited chances they got. Our best chances were missed chances."