Hurricanes 3 - 1 Coyotes
Final
  for this game

Strong third period lifts Hurricanes over Coyotes

Dec 15, 2013 - 5:23 AM Glendale, AZ (SportsNetwork.com) - Jeff Skinner scored the game-winner three minutes into the final period to lift the Carolina Hurricanes past the Phoenix Coyotes, 3-1, on Saturday.

Nathan Gerbe also scored and Eric Staal added a goal and a pair of assists for the Hurricanes, who had dropped three straight entering the contest. Justin Peters made 37 saves in the triumph.

Paul Bissonnette notched his first goal of the season for the Coyotes, who had won two straight. Mike Smith allowed two goals on 32 shots.

Phoenix opened up the scoring 6:14 in when Bissonnette tipped in a Connor Murphy shot from the slot.

Gerbe tied the game at 8:50 of the middle session. Gerbe skated in along the left boards, cut back to the middle and then beat Smith with a wrister.

Skinner potted the game-winner three minutes into the final session. After Staal one the faceoff, he dropped the disc back to Skinner, who skated through the circle and blasted a wrist shot into the back of the net.

"It was lying at Eric's feet and I just tried to pull it out and put it on net and it found its way in," said Skinner. "When you're getting chances, that's the way it goes sometimes. We're creating chances as a line and I've been lucky to capitalize on a few."

Staal added an empty-netter with six seconds remaining to account for the final difference.

"Every play counts and it came down to one faceoff and one loose puck that we lost and it ends up that's the one that's the difference in the game," Phoenix coach Dave Tippett said. "We had some good chances, some chances to capitalize in the third and we didn't do it."

Game Notes

Carolina was 0-for-4 on the power play and Phoenix finished 0-for-3 on power play chances ... The Hurricanes will host the Washington Capitals on Friday ... Phoenix opens a four-game road trip in Montreal on Tuesday.






Related News