Final
Hanzal's goal lifts Coyotes over Oilers
Mar 27, 2009 - 5:46 AM GLENDALE, Arizona (AP) -- The Phoenix Coyotes enjoy playing the role of the spoiler.The Coyotes knocked off Vancouver last weekend and then beat the playoff-hopeful Edmonton Oilers, 3-2, on Thursday night.
The also-ran Coyotes are playing with a purpose and providing a challenge for clubs fighting for spots in the postseason.
"How this team is responding is real positive," Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky said. "I thought against Vancouver was a good effort, and again tonight was an equally good effort. I'm really happy with the way our young guys are progressing."
Martin Hanzal scored the winning goal, and kept the Oilers from gaining critical points in their chase for a Western Conference playoff spot. Edmonton lost its third straight while Phoenix won for the third time in five games.
"We lost our composure in our zone (in the second period), and that cost us the game," Oilers defenseman Sheldon Souray said. "Right now, we're getting down to the nitty-gritty in the schedule and can only look ahead."
Matthew Lombardi had a goal and an assist, and Ken Klee also scored for Phoenix. Hanzal's second-period tally stood up as the game-winner.
Ales Kotalik and Ales Hemsky netted Edmonton's goals. Kotalik scored his 16th of the season at 10:01 and Hemsky got the Oilers within 3-2 just 43 seconds later when he put a shot between the legs of defenseman Kurt Sauer and by Ilya Bryzgalov.
The Oilers have eight games remaining.
"We're running out of defeats," coach Craig MacTavish said. "I thought we played well, but had a breakdown in the second period. They get nine shots, score three goals, and that did us. We had an inability to survive that period."
The Coyotes took a 1-0 lead when Lombardi beat goalie Dwayne Roloson, who dropped to his knees, with a wrist shot to the far side just 3:42 into the game.
Phoenix increased its lead with two goals just over three minutes apart in the second period.
Klee, a 37-year-old defenseman, scored his first of the season when he converted a centering pass from Nigel Dawes at 11:38. Hanzal made it 3-0 when he took a pass from Petr Prucha and scored his 11th of the campaign at 14:56.
"It's always nice when I score, and especially when it's the game winner," Hanzal said. "Every win is a huge win, and this was especially good because it was at home and we want to win for the fans."
- NHL
FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
EDMONTON 0 0 2 2
PHOENIX 1 2 0 3 FINAL
GOAL SCORING:
1ST PRD: PHO - MATTHEW LOMBARDI 13 (UNASSISTED) 3:42
2ND PRD: PHO - KEN KLEE 1 (NIGEL DAWES, MATTHEW LOMBARDI) 11:38
PHO - MARTIN HANZAL 12 (SHANE DOAN, PETR PRUCHA) 14:46
3RD PRD: EDM - (PP) ALES KOTALIK 16 (ALES HEMSKY, SHAW
Mar 27 12:35 AM - NHL
EDMONTON 2
PHOENIX 3
3RD PRD: EDM - ALES HEMSKY 22 (STEVE STAIOS) 10:44
Oilers 2, Coyotes 3 3rd - 9:16Mar 27 12:13 AM - NHL
EDMONTON 1
PHOENIX 3
3RD PRD: EDM - (PP) ALES KOTALIK 16 (ALES HEMSKY, SHAWN HORCOFF) 10:01
Oilers 1, Coyotes 3 3rd - 9:59Mar 27 12:11 AM - NHL
END OF THE 2ND 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
EDMONTON 0 0 0
PHOENIX 1 2 3 END OF THE 2ND
GOAL SCORING:
1ST PRD: PHO - MATTHEW LOMBARDI 13 (UNASSISTED) 3:42
2ND PRD: PHO - KEN KLEE 1 (NIGEL DAWES, MATTHEW LOMBARDI) 11:38
PHO - MARTIN HANZAL 12 (SHANE DOAN, PETR PRUCHA) 14:46
SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTA
Mar 26 11:34 PM - NHL
EDMONTON 0
PHOENIX 3
2ND PRD: PHO - MARTIN HANZAL 12 (SHANE DOAN, PETR PRUCHA) 14:46
Oilers 0, Coyotes 3 2nd - 5:14Mar 26 11:33 PM - NHL
EDMONTON 0
PHOENIX 2
2ND PRD: PHO - MARTIN HANZAL 11 (SHANE DOAN, PETR PRUCHA) 14:46
Oilers 0, Coyotes 2 2nd - 5:14Mar 26 11:23 PM - NHL
END OF THE 1ST 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
EDMONTON 0 0
PHOENIX 1 1 END OF THE 1ST
GOAL SCORING:
1ST PRD: PHO - MATTHEW LOMBARDI 13 (UNASSISTED) 3:42
SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
EDM 8 8
PHO 9 9
GOALIES: EDM - DWAYNE ROLOSON
PHO - ILJA BRY
Mar 26 10:42 PM - NHL
EDMONTON 0
PHOENIX 1
1ST PRD: PHO - MATTHEW LOMBARDI 13 (UNASSISTED) 3:42
Oilers 0, Coyotes 1 1st - 16:18Mar 26 10:18 PM
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