Coyotes 4 - 3 Flames
Final
  for this game

Coyotes complete sweep of Flames

Mar 16, 2011 - 5:03 AM Calgary, AB (Sports Network) - Ilya Bryzgalov yielded two goals in the third period, but the Phoenix Coyotes managed to hang on for a 4-3 win over Calgary, sweeping the season series between the teams for the first time in nine years.

Lee Stempniak, Eric Belanger, Keith Yandle and Michal Rozsival all scored for the Coyotes, who have won three in a row.

Yandle and Rozsival scored in the first 2:12 of the third period to give Phoenix a 4-1 lead, but the Flames responded with goals from Mikael Backlund and Alex Tanguay in the next 7:16 to pull within 4-3.

Bryzgalov and the Coyotes held on, however, and the team got its first four- game season sweep of Calgary since 2001-02. Bryzgalov finished with 24 saves.

"He was big for us. We're not necessarily the prettiest group, but we find ways to win and that was big tonight," said Phoenix's Shane Doan, who had an assist.

Olli Jokinen also scored for Calgary and Miikka Kiprusoff allowed four goals on 25 shots in defeat.

The Flames suffered their third straight loss, but remained in the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference because Nashville also fell Tuesday to the LA Kings.

"The beginning of the third was a quick breakdown," said Calgary's Jarome Iginla, who had an assist. "But we gotta keep going. We can be better. The good news is [Nashville also] lost tonight and now we get another shot."

Another bright spot for Calgary? Jay Bouwmeester broke the NHL ironman record for defensemen by playing in his 496th consecutive game, notching an assist in the effort.

Stempniak scored for the first time in 22 games on a one-timer 8:25 into the first period. Calgary tied it at 1-1 with 1:58 left in frame when Jokinen beat a shifting Bryzgalov from the left side.

Belanger got behind three defenders to score the second period's only goal on a backhand, sending Phoenix into the third armed with a 2-1 advantage.

Yandle's centering pass hit a Flame and went in at 1:53 and Rozsival scored on a long drive from above the right circle just 19 seconds later. Backlund's goal came on the power play -- the shot got through a screen -- and Tanguay scored from an impossible angle on the left side, squeezing a wrister in between Bryzgalov and the post.

Game Notes

The Flames are 0-2 on three-game homestand that also includes a visit from Colorado on Thursday...The Coyotes are 2-0 on a four-game road trip that also includes treks to Edmonton and Vancouver...Phoenix is still just 4-4-2 in its last 10 games.






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