Canucks 2, Coyotes 1 (SO)
Ryan Kesler scored in the sixth round of the shootout as the Vancouver Canucks ended the Phoenix Coyotes' season-high five-game winning streak with a 2-1 home triumph on Monday.
David Booth tallied for the second straight game and Roberto Luongo turned aside 23 shots for Northwest Division-leading Vancouver, which improved to 7-0-3 in its last 10 games and moved to within two points of the NHL-leading Detroit Red Wings.
All-Star defenseman Keith Yandle spoiled Luongo's bid for his third shutout of the season and 58th career by wristing a shot from the point past the netminder with 2:06 remaining in the third period.
After the teams traded goals during the first, third and fifth rounds of the shootout, Kesler skated in and wristed a shot past former Canucks backup Jason LaBarbera. Luongo then denied Boyd Gordon's backhander to preserve the victory.
With NHL First Star of the Week Mike Smith getting the night off, LaBarbera finished with 21 saves as Phoenix moved to within two points of Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings for sixth place in the Western Conference.
Booth opened the scoring at 10:40 of the second period. Booth skated around Yandle before cutting to the net and using his forehand to beat LaBarbera for his 10th goal of the season. Booth, who has collected points in nine of his last 10 contests, also scored against the Coyotes in the teams' last meeting on Nov. 25.