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Mueller, Bryzgalov lift Coyotes

Dec 21, 2007 - 7:48 AM By Michael Duca PA Sportsticker Contributing Writer

SAN JOSE , California (Ticker) - Rookie Peter Mueller scored in the first round of the shootout and Ilya Bryzgalov made three stops in the bonus format as the Phoenix Coyotes defeated the San Jose Sharks, 3-2, on Thursday.

Bryzgalov denied Joe Pavelski, Patrick Marleau and rookie Torrey Mitchell in the shootout, finishing with 36 saves.

Prior to Thursday's game, the Coyotes were outscored 16-1 in four losses to the Sharks this season. The victory snapped an eight-game loss streak to San Jose dating back to last December.

Phoenix captain Shane Doan scored a short-handed goal with 42 seconds remaining in regulation to level the game at 2-2.

"With everything that's happened against these guys this year," Doan said, "This was a big one for us to find a way (to win). We were at the end of a long trip and we didn't want to go home halfway. We wanted to finish the whole trip and it was big for us."

After the Coyotes won the power-play faceoff, defenseman Ed Jovanovski fed Doan in the slot, who wristed it over Nabokov's left shoulder for the game-tying goal.

"We killed off some key penalties," Phoenix coach Wayne Gretzky said. "And we got another penalty and got a shorthanded goal. Bryzgalov made some key saves when he had to, Doan scored the tying goal shorthanded, it was an all around good victory for us."

Mike York opened the scoring with a power-play goal 33 seconds into the third period for the Coyotes. The goal ended a shutout streak by Nabokov against the Coyotes of 271 minutes, 20 seconds, the second longest since the 1989-1990 NHL season.

"I think it was three games (against them) without scoring a goal," Mueller said. "So it's definitely good to break to know we can score on that goalie."

York carried the puck behind the net and stuffed it behind Evgeni Nabokov on his stick side.

"It's hard for a goaltender to get position when you have a quick shot coming from the side," Jeremy Roenick said.

Nabokov wasn't so forgiving.

"I didn't like the first goal, personally," Nabokov said. "I'll think about it driving home tonight."

The Sharks responded quickly as Mitchell and veteran Jeremy Roenick scored just over five minutes apart to give San Jose a 2-1 advantage.

Stationed behind the net, Mike Grier fed Mitchell, who stuffed it between Bryzgalov's pads to tie the game at 1-1.

Tempers flared between the two Pacific Division rivals, and after San Jose gained a 5-on-3 power play, Roenick wristed a shot which beat Bryzgalov with nearly eight minutes expired in the period.

"They are always looking for the pass," Roenick said, "especially on the 5-on-3. If you can surprise the goalie with a shot, he can't go down too early."

The goal was Roenick's 502nd career goal, tying him for second all-time among American-born goal scorers.

Nabokov finished with 35 saves.

"It sucks to lose that way, on a power play with the lead and 40 seconds to go," Nabokov said, "but we have Anaheim Saturday and we just have to forget about it."