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Bryzgalov, Coyotes crush Canucks

Mar 22, 2009 - 5:38 AM GLENDALE, Arizona (AP) -- At this point of the season, the Phoenix Coyotes don't want to be in a position to further embarrass themselves.

Deep in the Western Conference and out of the playoff picture, the Coyotes took advantage of a rare national television audience - on CBC's "Hockey Night in Canada" - to put together a solid 60 minute effort, and beat the Vancouver Canucks 5-1.

"After recent games, we were pretty disgusted with ourselves," said captain Shane Doan, who scored his 27th goal of the season. "It was apparent we made sure that we do not embarrass ourselves. Playing on ("Hockey Night in Canada") was huge. As a Canadian, it's like "Monday Night Football," but bigger."

In the process, Ilya Bryzgalov stopped 34 shots, and Daniel Winnik, Ed Jovanovski, Viktor Tikhonov and Matthew Lombardi added goals. It was Phoenix's highest-scoring game since beating Los Angeles, 6-3, on February 21. The four-goal margin was the largest for Phoenix this season.

Bryzgalov lost the shutout when Alex Burrows slammed in a puck that rebounded off the back boards with 1:45 left in the game.

"We did not execute, it was that simple," said Burrows, who picked up his 24th of the season. "Once we got behind, it was tough coming back. We missed many shots, and their goalie stopped anything which got through."

The five goals allowed are the most Vancouver has surrendered since a 5-3 loss January 28 at home against Nashville. The Canucks lost in regulation for the second time in their last 11 games.

"This was a missed opportunity," Canucks coach Alain Vigneault said. "Our game wasn't there, and execution was not where it needed to be."

After the Coyotes failed to score on two power-play opportunities, Winnik beat Roberto Luongo at even strength with 5:55 left in the first period.

Phoenix made it 3-0 with goals in a 2:04 span early in the second.

First, Doan ripped a wrist shot past Luongo at 1:21. The goal was set up on a perfect pass from defenseman Keith Yandle from inside the Phoenix blue line to the Vancouver side of center ice.

Jovanovski followed with his seventh of the season on a power play at 3:25.

Phoenix upped its lead to 4-0 on a goal credited to Tikhonov at 10:30 of the second. As Tikhonov was called for a hooking penalty, he touched the puck inside the Vancouver line, but did not maintain control. When Vancouver defenseman Shane O'Brien attempted to poke check, the puck - last touched by Tikhonov - slide into a vacated Vancouver net.

"That's definitely a first for me," said Tikhonov. "I was actually wondering, 'did that count?' I didn't know to celebrate or not."