Panthers 1 - 2 Coyotes
Final
  for this game

Coyotes host Panthers aiming for 3rd straight win

Mar 20, 2014 - 3:03 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Phoenix Coyotes hope to boost their playoff chances with a third straight victory when they welcome the Florida Panthers for Thursday's clash at Jobing.com Arena.

With 77 points, the Coyotes are occupying the final playoff berth in the Western Conference. Phoenix, however, is just two points ahead of Dallas for the second of the West's two wild card spots and the Stars, who hold a game in hand over the Coyotes, are playing Thursday in Philadelphia.

In addition to winning its last two outings, Phoenix has posted victories in four of five and six of its past eight games. The Coyotes are attempting to get back to the postseason after missing the playoffs last season for the first time since 2009.

Phoenix last played on Monday when it edged the Los Angeles Kings on the road. Jeff Halpern scored the game-winner with 3:05 left in the third period to propel the Coyotes to the 4-3 decision at Staples Center.

With the game tied 3-3 late in the third, a Phoenix counterattack saw a blocked shot ricochet into the left circle, where Halpern was waiting all alone. With Jonathan Quick scrambling following the change of direction, Halpern threw a shot on net that the LA netminder appeared to stop from his back before making another incredible save on the rebound attempt to keep the game tied.

However, at the next stoppage, video review showed Halpern's shot fully cross the goal line before Quick's stick knocked it back into play.

"We have the headset on the bench so we got a call from our video guy saying the puck was in so we were just hoping for the right call," Phoenix head coach Dave Tippett said of Halpern's marker.

Mike Smith, who finished with 36 saves, stood tall the rest of the way to help the Coyotes pick up the valuable win. Keith Yandle notched a goal and an assist, while Rob Klinkhammer and Mikkel Boedker each scored once for Phoenix.

It was the third win in four road games for the Coyotes, who will open a two- game homestand tonight. Phoenix is 20-11-3 as the home club this season and also will host Boston on Saturday.

Phoenix has won two straight and four of its last five games against the Panthers, but Florida has earned a split over its past four trips to the desert.

Although the Panthers are 16 points out of a playoff spot in the East, they have won two of their last three tilts and opened a four-game road trip with Tuesday's surprising win at San Jose.

Roberto Luongo was the star for the Panthers in San Jose, making 53 saves as the Florida Panthers took a 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday.

Luongo is 3-2-1 with a 2.48 goals against average and .928 save percentage in six games since coming back to the Panthers in a trade with Vancouver before the deadline. The 34-year-old also played with Florida from 2000-06 and Tuesday's performance marked the fifth time he posted 50 or more saves in a Panthers sweater.

Brandon Pirri had a goal and an assist while Scottie Upshall and Quinton Howden also lit the lamp for the Panthers, who entered the game having lost four of five.

Pirri has three goals and four assists in eight games since Florida general manager Dale Tallon picked him up from Chicago for a pair of draft picks at the trade deadline. The 22-year-old forward was a second-round pick by the Blackhawks in 2009.

"I was fortunate enough that Dale believed in me, and I want to prove him right," said Pirri.

Florida, which will complete its road trip with a stops in Los Angeles and Anaheim, is just 13-20-3 as the visiting team this season.






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