Ducks 6, Coyotes 2
Defenseman Francois Beauchemin scored twice and had an assist as the red-hot Anaheim Ducks pulled away to defeat the visiting Phoenix Coyotes 6-2 on Wednesday for their sixth victory in seven games.
Niklas Hagman registered his third goal in three games against Phoenix this season and Jason Blake recorded his fourth marker of 2011-12 – all in the last three contests – as the Ducks (16-22-7) climbed to within 13 points of eighth place in the West.
Jonas Hiller made 25 saves and is 3-0-1 in his last four games for Anaheim, which was 21 points out of playoff position on Jan. 7. Hiller was also aided twice by defenseman clearing the puck off the goal line.
Hart Trophy winner Corey Perry and Matt Beleskey added third-period goals. Perry’s 21st of the season came on a shorthanded breakaway.
Kyle Chipchura recorded his first goal in 75 games and Daymond Langkow also scored for the Coyotes (21-19-7), who remain two points out of a playoff spot and go home to play nine of their next 11.
Beauchemin broke a 2-2 tie at 14:51 of the second period when he moved in from the point to the open slot, took a feed from Andrew Cogliano and beat Mike Smith with a wrist shot high to the blocker side for the third two-goal game of his career.
Langkow had time and space to beat Hiller with a wrist shot from the slot at 9:32 of the second period to make it 2-2 after all three Ducks forwards – and defenseman Luca Sbisa – were caught up ice.