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Bryzgalov, Coyotes blank Blue Jackets

Dec 21, 2008 - 5:51 AM GLENDALE, Arizona (Ticker) -- Ilya Bryzgalov made 33 saves to record his first shutout of the season as the Phoenix Coyotes defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets, 2-0, on Saturday.

Steven Reinprecht and rookie Mikkel Boedker scored for the Coyotes, who have posted a 4-0-2 record over their last six games.

Phoenix swept the season series with the Blue Jackets, winning all four meetings in regulation.

"It is tough because those are points that we need," Columbus' leading scorer Rick Nash said. "This is a team that we are going to be in fight for a playoff spot, so losing four straight to them is unacceptable."

Bryzgalov turned aside 10 shots in the first period, 11 more in the second and 12 in the third to complete his sixth career blanking.

"Shutouts are like a dessert, but the most important thing is to win. It doesn't matter if you win 6-0 or 6-5, it's a huge two points for us," Bryzgalov said. "The important thing is I helped my team out. They have trust in me and we have pretty good chemistry."

After a scoreless opening session, Reinprecht opened the scoring midway through the second with his eighth goal of the season.

Reinprecht stuffed captain Shane Doan's rebound past rookie goaltender Steve Mason with 9:37 left in the period to provide all the offense that Bryzgalov would need.

Boedker doubled the advantage at 6:52 of the final session with a great individual effort, capitalizing on a turnover in Columbus' zone. The 19-year-old picked up the puck in the left faceoff circle, skated around a defender and beat Mason with backhander.

It was Boedker's seventh goal of the season.

"I shouldn't even have been on the ice. Lisin was getting his skate fixed, so I took a chance and jumped on the ice," Boedker said.

"I was really lucky because the puck bounced right to me. The D-man stood up and I tried to keep it away from him. I think the goalie thought I was going to pass it, so I was lucky to have a little hole."

With the win, Phoenix moved in sole passion of seventh place in the Western Conference.

"You can't win a playoff spot in December, but you can definitely lose a playoff spot in December," Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky said. "We are right in the middle of a battle, four or five points behind three or four teams, yet we are only three points ahead of five or six teams. We like where we are, we are playing well but we know we have long way to go."

Mason stopped 22 shots for the Blue Jackets, who have lost six of their last nine contests.

"We're professionals and we have to be better for 60 minutes," Columbus defenseman Kris Russell said. "We have to get off to a good start. We've got to get pucks to the net and we've got to get more shots on net. When one guy goes down, everyone has to step up and keep going hard."