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Doan, Perreault help Coyotes edge Predators

Feb 2, 2007 - 7:03 AM GLENDALE, Arizona (Ticker) -- The Phoenix Coyotes were in an unenviable position early in the third period. But Shane Doan and All-Star Yanic Perreault came to the rescue against the league-leading Nashville Predators.

Doan tied the contest just over 8 1/2 minutes into the third and Perreault tallied with 5:29 remaining, lifting the Coyotes to a 3-2 victory over the Predators.

With the game even at 1-1 after two periods, Nashville grabbed the lead when Jason Arnott converted a power-play opportunity 5 1/2 minutes into the final session. But Phoenix refused to surrender, scoring twice against goaltender Tomas Vokoun in the final 11:17 to halt a brief two-game skid.

"When you are playing a team of this caliber, everyone has to contribute," Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky said. "We got a tremendous effort from our top guys. It was a really nice team effort."

Gaining control of a loose puck in the slot, Doan unleashed a shot that caromed off the skate of Nashville's David Legwand and past Vokoun at 8:43, forging a 2-2 tie.

"It was going wide by three feet and the puck hit our guy in the leg and went in," Vokoun said. "It's tough. Sometimes the bounces go for you and sometimes they go against you, and certainly tonight it went against us."

It was the 189th career goal for the Coyotes captain, who pulled even with Doug Smail for fifth place on the franchise list.

"I've been here a long time and I am very fortunate, so it's neat," Doan said. "I'm very happy about it."

Less than six minutes later, defenseman Nick Boynton fired a pass from the right point to Perreault, who redirected the puck by Vokoun from the left side of the crease for a 3-2 edge. It was the 18th goal of the season and fifth game-winner for the former Predator.

"Nick saw me on the far post," Perreault said. "(The puck) took a little time to pass that red (goal) line, but it's nice to get a goal. This is a big win after a tough week, so we have to keep going and try to get more wins."

"Boynton made a great play to suck everybody to him, and Perreault was there to finish it off," Arnott said.

Jeremy Roenick had a goal and an assist and Curtis Joseph made 28 saves for Phoenix, which improved to 10-5-1 in its last 15 home games.

"We kept it real simple," Joseph said. "We were tired after playing the night before, so we just made sure we limited our mistakes and tried to win a low-scoring game. Simple was better tonight."

Steve Sullivan scored a goal and set up the other for the Predators, who lost for just the third time in 13 contests.

"It was a night where we had quite a few breakdowns defensively in our own end," Sullivan said. "They got a lucky break off David Legwand's leg, and the other one, Yanic Perreault had a nice tip. So no, it's not the norm for us and we know we can't afford to do that most nights."

With three goals in his previous two games, Sullivan gave Nashville a 1-0 lead at 3:54 of the first period. Scott Hartnell led a 2-on-1 rush down the left wing while shorthanded and passed to Sullivan, who redirected the puck past Joseph from the doorstep for his 19th of the season.

"I have done nothing different, but since the All-Star break, our line has created a lot of scoring chances," Sullivan said. "All three of us have seen the ice really well. We may all not be getting points every night, but as a line, we are creating a lot."

A two-time 50-goal scorer, Roenick drew Phoenix even with 8:44 left in the opening session. Nashville defenseman Shea Weber committed a turnover in the slot, and Roenick pounced on the loose puck, firing a shot that beat Vokoun to the stick side for his seventh tally.

After a scoreless middle period, Arnott regained the lead for the Predators with a man-advantage goal, unleashing a slap shot from just above the left faceoff circle that eluded Joseph, who was screened by teammate Fredrik Sjostrom. The tally, Arnott's 19th of the campaign, extended his goal-scoring streak to three games.

"We've been great with leads or we wouldn't have the record we do," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. "But tonight, we gave that one away."