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Garon impressive as Oilers edge Coyotes in shootout

Sep 26, 2007 - 4:51 AM Bob Huhn PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

GLENDALE, Arizona (Ticker) - Marty Reasoner scored the decisive goal in the shootout but it was the goaltenders that stole the show as the the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Phoenix Coyotes, 2-1, in a preseason game Tuesday.

Reasoner was able to poke the puck past Coyotes goalie Alex Auld before Mathieu Garon sealed the victory with a right pad save on rookie Martin Hanzal's attempt.

Oilers center Jarret Stoll and Coyotes right wing Radim Vrbata also tallied in the shootout.

Garon was impressive all night, allowing just the one goal in 40 shots. He received some help from the goalie's best friend in the opening period when rookie Peter Mueller wristed a shot off the right post from the left circle.

After a scoreless first period, the Coyotes got on the board when Nino Kapanen capitalized on a rebound off Fredrik Sjostrom's wrist shot from the corner. Kapanen sent it back in through traffic, beating Garon on the stick side for his first goal of the preseason for a 1-0 advantage.

Auld blocked 22 of the 23 shots he faced. Auld, who signed as free agent this offseason after going 7-13-5 with Vancouver, is battling for a roster spot with David Aebischer and Mikael Tellqvist.

The Oilers had a chance to tie the game midway in the second period with the Coyotes' Steven Reinprecht in the penalty box for hooking, but 18-year-old Sam Gagner redirected a shot wide past Auld that hit the left post.

Edmonton pulled even at the 2:32 mark in the third period when defenseman Tom Gilbert slipped a wrister from the slot past Auld, tying the game at 1-1