Coyotes 3 - 1 Canucks
Final
  for this game

LaBarbera backstops Coyotes over Canucks

Mar 19, 2011 - 5:42 AM Vancouver, BC (Sports Network) - Jason LaBarbera made 46 saves to help the streaking Phoenix Coyotes snap Vancouver's seven-game winning streak with a 3-1 victory at Rogers Arena.

Radim Vrbata, Shane Doan and Lee Stempniak scored goals in the third period for the Coyotes, who have won five straight to move one point back of San Jose for the top spot in the Pacific Division and third in the Western Conference.

"I haven't played a whole lot lately," said LaBarbera. "I just had to focus and I just wanted to contribute and give the guys a chance to win tonight."

Christian Ehrhoff lit the lamp for the Canucks, who have already clinched the Northwest Division and sit atop the NHL standings with 103 points, nine ahead of Philadelphia, Washington and Detroit. Roberto Luongo stopped 26-of-28 shots in the loss.

"I thought it was a good game and we played really hard," said Luongo. "He (LaBarbera) has played real good for them. It would have been nice to come away with two points but that doesn't happen every game."

Neither side scored through the first 40 minutes as LaBarbera stopped 28 shots and Luongo made 20 saves.

Phoenix finally broke the shutout on the power play with 6:29 to play. Eric Belanger attempted a pass from the right circle, but it hit off the skate of a Canuck. However, it sat in front and Vrbata was able to backhand it in for the lead.

Just over a minute later, Phoenix tallied another power-play goal as Vrbata's slap shot from the right point was tipped in by Doan.

Vancouver cut its deficit to one with 2:58 to play when Ehrhoff jammed the puck in as LaBarbera was attempting to cover up a shot. But Stempniak put the puck into the empty net with 1:05 to play to seal the win.

Game Notes

Vancouver hits the road for its next four games starting on Wednesday in Detroit...Phoenix hosts Chicago on Sunday...These teams split the season series for the fourth straight year...Phoenix was 2-for-7 on the power play while Vancouver went 0-for-5.






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