Maple Leafs 4 - 2 Coyotes
Final
  for this game

Leafs double up Coyotes for desert victory

Jan 21, 2014 - 6:50 AM Glendale, AZ (SportsNetwork.com) - Phil Kessel and Nazem Kadri netted a power- play goal each, as Toronto posted its fifth straight victory with a 4-2 decision over Phoenix on Monday.

Jake Gardiner and Carl Gunnarsson also tallied for the Maple Leafs, who haven't tasted defeat since a one-goal loss at Washington on Jan. 10.

"We did a lot of good things early in the game and then we reverted back to some of the old habits," Toronto coach Randy Carlyle said. "We seem to want to make life more difficult for ourselves. But we've won five in a row now and it's a positive step for this club."

Jonathan Bernier came up with 39 stops for the win, his fourth straight positive decision.

Mike Ribeiro and Antoine Vermette scored for the Coyotes, who have lost five of their last seven. Mike Smith allowed all four scores on 29 shots in the setback.

The Leafs went to the first intermission ahead by two, as Gardiner and Kessel -- the latter on a power play -- struck within a span of 2:02 late in the period.

Gunnarsson's put-back of a Dion Phaneuf rebound sent Toronto up by three just over five minutes into the second period.

Phoenix finally answered on a power play, when Ribeiro redirected a Keith Yandle dish at the left post with 5:35 elapsed in the third period.

After Kadri's man-advantage score made it a three-goal margin once more, Vermette tapped in a Korpikoski dish and the Coyotes got to 4-2 with 5:01 to play.

"When you give the opposition those opportunities on turnovers and they capitalize, you're going to be chasing the game, and that's exactly what happened," Phoenix coach Dave Tippett said. "There are little things that come back to haunt us off and on all year, and those continue to be areas of concern and areas we have to improve in."

Smith was on the bench for the final 1:32 of regulation, but his teammates couldn't dent Bernier.

Game Notes

The Leafs snapped a three-game losing skid in Arizona, dating back to a 5-4 win on Oct. 23, 2003, and improved to 3-7-1 on the road against the Coyotes since the franchise moved from Winnipeg in 1996 ... Bernier has made at least 30 saves in each of his last five starts ... Prior to the contest, the Coyotes announced that forward Martin Hanzal was day-to-day with a lower-body injury ... Hard-rock legend Alice Cooper was in attendance.






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