Coyotes 4 - 3 Lightning
Final - 2OT
  for this game

Coyotes edge Lightning in SO

Mar 11, 2014 - 5:02 AM Tampa, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Radim Vrbata scored the winner in the shootout as the Phoenix Coyotes edged the Tampa Bay Lightning, 4-3.

Vrbata had the second chance for Phoenix and he faked to the backhand before lifting it high past Ben Bishop. Mike Smith then stretched the left pad out to the post to stop Ryan Callahan's stuff attempt for the win.

Martin Erat, Brandon McMillan and Mikkel Boedker all scored for the Coyotes, who have won three of their last four. Smith stopped 28 shots.

"I think we responded well to get the two points here," said Smith. "We've been giving up too many leads lately, but we held tough and we're able to get a big win."

Ondrej Palat had two goals and an assist for the Lightning, who have dropped a season-high five straight games. Tyler Johnson also scored and Bishop made 17 saves.

"We just have to put it together for a full 60 minutes," said Callahan. "There's times where we use our speed and passing to bear down on opponents, and when we do that we have success. Now it's just a matter of doing it for a full game."

The first goal of the game was scored by Tampa while shorthanded, as Johnson skated down the right wing and was able to get clear as his defender fell and he cut to the front of the net before lifting a backhander over Smith's glove at 11:26 of the first.

Phoenix tied the game 61 seconds into the second, as Keith Yandle's shot from the left circle was stopped, but the rebound sat in front and McMillan snuck it under the right pad of Bishop.

Tampa regained the lead with just 52.3 seconds to play after Ryan Callahan had two shots from the right side and finally passed it over to his left where Palat snapped it home.

A turnover in the Tampa end led to Phoenix tying the game just 2:13 as Erat quickly picked it up and quickly put it home for his second goal of the year.

The Coyotes then took their first lead of the game at 7:48 as Boedker's backhand from the right side went in off the back of Bishop and in.

Tampa pulled Bishop late in the game for an extra attacker and the move paid off as Matt Carle fired a shot on net from the high slot that saw Valtteri Filppula push the rebound back out front and Palat shoot it in with 37.2 seconds to play.

Game Notes

Phoenix plays in Florida on Tuesday ... Tampa hosts Florida on Thursday ... The Coyotes took a 6-3 win over the Lightning at home on Nov. 16 ... Tampa went 0-for-4 on the power play, while Phoenix was 0-for-3.






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