Rangers 2, Coyotes 1 (SO)
Derek Stepan scored the decisive goal in the sixth round of the shootout as the New York Rangers extended their winning streak to five games with a 2-1 home triumph over the Phoenix Coyotes on Tuesday.
Ruslan Fedotenko tallied in regulation and Henrik Lundqvist made 18 saves for his seventh consecutive victory for New York, which also has won five straight at home and 10 of 11 overall.
After Marian Gaborik kept the Rangers alive by beating Mike Smith between the pads in the third round of the shootout, Stepan fired the puck just under the crossbar to give New York the edge. Lundqvist clinched the win by stopping Shane Doan on the Coyotes' final chance.
Neither team was able to break through until 2:27 of the third period, when Fedotenko grabbed a loose puck in the high slot and wristed it past Smith. Phoenix forged a tie 9:10 later as Radim Vrbata beat Lundqvist with a one-timer from the right faceoff circle for his 20th goal of the season and fourth in five games.
Gaborik had a golden opportunity to give New York the win when he was awarded a penalty shot 3:10 into overtime after being slashed by Coyotes defenseman Adrian Aucoin during a partial breakaway. But Smith made a sprawling stick save to keep Phoenix's chances for a victory alive.
Smith stopped 31 shots for the Coyotes, who have lost five of six on the road and seven of nine overall.