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Turris scores twice to lead Coyotes past Predators

Dec 19, 2008 - 5:45 AM GLENDALE, Arizona (Ticker) -- After losing two straight one-goal contests, the Phoenix Coyotes finally found themselves on the other end of such a predicament.

Rookie Kyle Turris scored twice and helped the Coyotes snap a two-game losing streak with a 2-1 triumph over the Nashville Predators on Thursday.

Ilya Bryzgalov made 30 saves in his eighth consecutive start for the Coyotes, who improved to 10-4-2 at home this season.

"It was a four-point game," Bryzgalov said. "It was a great team effort and we played desperate hockey ... We are not playing tennis. It's the whole team, a team effort. All I do is try to give my team a chance to win."

Vernon Fiddler tallied and Dan Ellis stopped 25 shots, but the Predators fell for the fourth time in five contests.

"Bottom line, we haven't scored very many goals lately," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. "We have got to get production from our top guys. We've been getting zero from them in the last few games. There are some guys not pulling their weight. They need to step up."

The 19-year-old Turris snapped a 1-1 tie with 9:58 left in the third period, tapping in a rebound while sitting on the doorstep.

"He is a player that is going to create a lot of offensive opportunities both in passing and shooting," Phoenix coach Wayne Gretzky said. "He is one of those guys that knows where to go to get loose pucks and you can see that he is much more confident."

Enver Lisin accepted a feed from Zbynek Michalek and fired a wrister, and the rebound bounced to Lisin at the right side of the net, where he unleashed another attempt at Ellis. Ellis again could not control the rebound and Turris was there to force the puck in.

"We have been talking about this for a while how our young guys are really starting to contribute in a fashion in crucial parts of the hockey games," Gretzky said. "A big play or set up or goal and tonight it was a late goal after Enver made a tremendous play with his speed to go wide and Kyle (Turris) went to the net, stayed patient and knocked it in.

"Our young guys are getting more confidence right now, they are playing extremely well and taking pressure of the other guys."

The Coyotes have outscored opponents, 13-2, in the third period over the last nine games.

"We pride ourselves on our third periods," Turris said. "We have been saying in the dressing room all year long that the thirds are our best. That is the way we want to finish games playing well in the third."

Gretzky has also been impressed with his team's play late in games.

"You make your own opportunities," Gretzky said. "These guys work hard in practice every single day so physically I think we are in solid shape. We felt last year after 60 games we got really tired, so this year we have made a conscious effort to work hard and it seems to be paying off. I think the players are a little fresher and feeling good about themselves."

Turris opened the scoring with 10 seconds left in the first with a wrist shot in front of the net.

However, Fiddler knotted the game by lifting a backhander past Bryzgalov 9:57 into the second.

"We tried to keep it simple," Fiddler said. "We didn't turn the puck over in the neutral zone. We got the puck behind their defense and created some space for me and I was able to get the goal. That goal gave us a little more jump. I thought we should have had couple of more especially at the end."