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Coyotes seek sixth consecutive victory in battle with Canucks

Nov 21, 2010 - 3:32 PM (Sports Network) - The Phoenix Coyotes try to stretch their season-high winning streak to six games this evening when they visit a Vancouver Canucks team that is coming off its worst loss at home since 2008.

The Coyotes close out a three-game road trip tonight at Rogers Arena having gone 5-0-2 in their last seven games. They picked up their fifth win in a row on Friday, rallying from three goals down to post a 4-3 shootout triumph over the Oilers.

After Edmonton netted the game's first three goals, Lauri Korpikoski got Phoenix on the board with 6:47 to go in the second period and Radim Vrbata added a power-play tally less than two minutes later. Wojtek Wolski then forced overtime when he converted a Ray Whitney feed into a game-tying goal with 35 seconds left in regulation.

Vrbata, who had two assists, Lee Stempniak and Eric Belanger all scored in the shootout, with Belanger's forehander past Oilers goaltender Devan Dubnyk and under the crossbar in the fifth round serving as the game-winner.

"As players you have a few moves you're comfortable with," said Belanger. "That was a new goalie I've never seen before. You go with the move that you trust. That's what I did and it was a big goal."

Ilya Bryzgalov made 27 stops for the win, while Whitney ended with three assists to give him six helpers and nine points in his last four games.

Phoenix, which is on its longest winning streak since a nine-game run from March 4-21, could have captain Shane Doan back in the lineup for the first time in eight games because of a lower-body injury. However, fellow forward Kyle Turris is unlikely to play tonight due to an upper-body ailment suffered versus Edmonton.

The Coyotes will be trying to hand the Canucks just their second regulation home loss of the season tonight. Vancouver went 6-0-1 in its first seven at Rogers Arena this year prior to last night's 7-1 setback versus Chicago. It was the Canucks' worse loss at home since a 7-1 defeat to Calgary on April 5, 2008.

Mikael Samuelsson scored the lone goal for the Canucks, have lost three straight overall after winning eight of nine. Roberto Luongo stopped only 16- of-20 shots before giving way to Cory Schneider, who allowed three goals on 21 shots in defeat.

"Look at the goals tonight, a few were them against the goalies," said Vancouver's Daniel Sedin. "It was a tough night for them."

The Canucks were without defenseman Keith Ballard last night due to flu-like symptoms.

These two clubs have split their four-game series in each of the past three seasons. Phoenix has lost two straight and four of the last five on the road against the Canucks and has just two wins in its last 17 trips to Vancouver.

Luongo could get the start again tonight after leaving last night's game early and is 8-7-1 with a 2.23 goals-against average versus the Coyotes, while Bryzgalov is 6-6-1 with a 2.19 GAA when facing the Canucks.