Coyotes 4, Oilers 3
Mike Ribeiro recorded a goal and an assist as visiting Phoenix opened a big lead before holding on for just its fourth win in 12 games.
Mikkel Boedker, Radim Vrbata and defenseman Derek Morris also scored for the Coyotes, who improved to 4-0-0 against Edmonton this season. Mike Smith turned aside 36 shots as Phoenix halted its five-game road winless streak (0-3-2).
Matt Hendricks, David Perron and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins tallied for the Oilers, whose winless stretch reached six games (0-5-1). Ilya Bryzgalov finished with 25 saves.
Phoenix scored three goals in a 4:02 span late in the first period to seemingly take control. Boedker put a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle off the left post and in with 5:43 remaining and Vrbata converted a feed from Martin Hanzal during a power play 2:53 later before Morris buried a one-timer from above the right circle 69 seconds afterward to cap the outburst.
Ribeiro shoveled a pass from along the right-wing boards by David Moss past Bryzgalov three minutes into the second for a 4-0 lead. Hendricks began Edmonton's comeback attempt at 13:17 with his first goal in four games since being acquired from Nashville while Perron and Nugent-Hopkins scored six minutes apart in the first half of the third, but the Oilers were unable to come all the way back.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Edmonton captain Andrew Ference sat out the final two periods with an undisclosed injury, leaving the Oilers with five defensemen. ... Vrbata's goal ended his 13-game drought. The veteran had not scored since Dec. 27 against San Jose. ... Hanzal was back in Phoenix's lineup after missing two games with a lower-body injury.