Coyotes 4, Wild 2
Radim Vrbata scored twice in just over a two-minute span in the third
period as the Phoenix Coyotes snapped a season-high four-game losing
skid with a 4-2 road triumph over the Minnesota Wild on Saturday.
Making his first start of the season, Curtis McElhinney turned aside 28
shots and veteran Daymond Langkow was credited with a power-play goal
for the Coyotes.
Langkow's first-period tally came in unconventional
fashion. The puck caromed off his shoulder before Minnesota defenseman
Jared Spurgeon batted it out of the air and inadvertently into his own
net.
Vrbata recorded his fifth multi-goal game of the season by netting his
team-leading 17th and 18th tallies to give Phoenix a 3-1 advantage in
the third period. Vrbata sent a pair of wrist shots past Niklas
Backstrom at 4:15 and 6:16, respectively.
After being tripped, Matt Cullen trimmed the deficit back to one by
converting the ensuing penalty shot at 8:12 of the third period.
Minnesota, however, could not net the equalizer and fell for the ninth
time in 10 games.
Vrbata was also credited with an assist on Ray Whitney's empty-net goal to seal the win.
After Pierre-Marc Bouchard collected his fourth goal in six games to
give Minnesota a 1-0 advantage, Langkow leveled the contest with 4:58
remaining in the second.
Backstrom finished with 26 saves.