Phoenix 4, Anaheim 0
When: 9:00 PM ET, Saturday, March 31, 2012
Where: Jobing.com Arena, Glendale, Arizona
Referees:
Gord Dwyer, Dennis LaRue
Linesmen:
Derek Nansen, Jay Sharrers
Attendance:
15856
By SportsDirect Inc.
COYOTES 4, DUCKS 0: After securing his 1,000th career point, Ray Whitney scored a goal and Mike Smith recorded his second straight shutout as host Phoenix moved into a tie for first place in the Pacific Division with Los Angeles.
Whitney became the 79th player in NHL history to reach the milestone when he sent a cross-ice pass to Radim Vrbata, who beat Jeff Deslauriers with a wrist shot high to the glove side on a 5-on-3 power play. Vrbata's 33rd goal came at 16:14 of the second period.
Forty seconds later, Whitney scored with the man advantage for his 24th goal, sending the Jobing.com Arena crowd into a frenzy.
Smith made 21 of his 44 saves in the first period and preserved his seventh shutout and 18th career when he robbed Bobby Ryan from point-blank range during a power play early in the third period.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Antoine Vermette also had goals as Phoenix won two straight games for the first time since February.
Larsson stepped out of the box after serving a hooking penalty and took a feed from Mikkel Boedker at center ice. He then went in alone on Deslauriers and slid a backhander between his pads at 6:10.
Vermette made it 2-0 when he deflected Derek Morris’ shot from the point with the shaft of his stick at 11:03 of the second.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Whitney, who turns 40 next month, has played 1,226 games with San Jose, Edmonton, Florida, Columbus, Detroit, Carolina and Phoenix. … Vrabata’s 33 goals are the most in franchise history since Nelson Emerson’s 32 for Winnipeg in 1993-94. ... Deslauriers made 25 saves in his third start as the Ducks rested Jonas Hiller, who has started 70 of 78 games. … Ekman-Larsson is fifth among NHL defenseman with 13 goals.
Top Game Performances
Anaheim |
|
Phoenix |
N/A |
Points |
Radim Vrbata 2 |
N/A |
Goals |
Radim Vrbata 1 |
N/A |
Assists |
Radim Vrbata 1 |
N/A |
Power Play Goals |
Radim Vrbata 1 |
N/A |
Short Handed Goals |
N/A |
Jeff Deslauriers .862 |
Save Percentage |
Mike Smith 1.000 |
Jeff Deslauriers 25 |
Saves |
Mike Smith 44 |
Team Stats Summary
Team |
Shots |
Goals |
Power Play |
Penalty Kill |
Penalty Mins |
Face Offs Won |
Anaheim
|
44 |
0 |
0-6 |
1-4 |
25 |
32 |
Phoenix
|
29 |
4 |
3-4 |
6-6 |
19 |
29 |
Upcoming Games
-
Phoenix will play their next game at home against Columbus. The Coyotes have a W/L % of .436 after a win and .550 after a loss.
-
Anaheim will play their next game at home against Edmonton. The Ducks have a W/L % of .424 after a win and .422 after a loss.