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The Ducks and Coyotes split six games this season
(Sports Network) - Both the Phoenix Coyotes and Anaheim Ducks will be looking to shake up the Western Conference playoff picture this evening when the two clubs collide at the Honda Center. The Coyotes come into this contest with 81 points, tied with three other clubs for the final four playoff spots in the Western Conference and a point back of the fourth-place Stars. The Ducks are right on the outside of the mix, two points back with 79.
The two teams have also been going in opposite directions. While the Ducks have won five of their last six games, the Coyotes' 3-0 win over the Flames on Thursday was just their second in eight games (2-4-2) following an eight-game win streak.
Ilya Bryzgalov, a former Duck, made 39 saves versus Calgary for his sixth shutout of the season and 22nd of his career. Twenty of those have come with Phoenix, one shy of Nikolai Khabibulin's club record. "He was excellent," Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett said of Bryzgalov. "We probably gave up more chances than we like, but he was solid in all aspects."
Eric Belanger, Brett MacLean and Shane Doan all tallied for Phoenix, which begins a four-game road trip hoping to snap a four-game slide as the guest club. Doan has five goals and 12 points in his past 13 games. Phoenix was without Ray Whitney, Rostislav Klesla and Martin Hanzal due to injury. Whitney, who has missed the last two games with a lower-body injury, is a game-time decision for tonight, while Klesla and Hanzal are out.
Whitney's return would be welcomed as he has a pair of goals and four assists versus the Ducks this year, while Doan has two tallies and five assists for a club-best seven points in the season series. The Ducks continued to roll on Friday, getting a goal and two assists from Ryan Getzlaf in a 6-2 triumph over the Avalanche. Corey Perry and Saku Koivu both finished with a goal and an assist, while Bobby Ryan, Bran Winchester and Dan Sexton added scores.
"Two points for us is huge," Getzlaf said. "Every night we know what we have at stake." Perry and Ryan both have five points over the Ducks' last two games and have combined for seven goals and eight assists versus the Coyotes this season. Dan Ellis made 24 saves and is 5-1-1 with a 2.22 goals-against average in seven games since joining the Ducks. He is 3-2-0 with a 2.20 GAA in his career versus the Coyotes.
Tonight marks the final regular-season matchup between these two Pacific Division clubs and the Ducks have won three of five this year. Anaheim has also won five of the last seven played at the Honda Center. Bryzgalov is 11-8-2 with a 2.65 GAA in 21 starts versus his former club.
Ducks Fall In Phoenix To Coyotes, 5-2
Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Lauri Korpikoski scored a pair of goals and Ilya Bryzgalov made 36 saves, as the Phoenix Coyotes handled the Anaheim Ducks, 5-2.
Shane Doan had a goal and two assists for the Coyotes, who have won three of four since a five-game skid. Taylor Pyatt and David Schlemko also scored for the victors.
"It's huge for us just to find ways to win games," Doan said. "The fun thing about being on this team is that we count on every single guy."
Corey Perry scored a pair of goals for the Ducks, who had won five of six coming in. Dan Ellis turned aside 17-of-21 shots before being pulled in favor of Ray Emery, who made nine saves in the third period.
Perry put the Ducks on the board at the 3:46 mark of the first period. Bobby Ryan made some nice moves to get to the side of the net before sliding a pass in front for Perry, who completed the play with a tip-in.
Phoenix tied the game about two minutes later. Pyatt stole the puck away from Anaheim at the blue line, made his way to the right circle and fired a wrister past Ellis.
Korpikoski gave the Coyotes a 2-1 lead with 2:27 remaining. With his defender stickless, Korpikoski found the back of the net with a shot from the left circle.
Perry's power play goal at the 15:46 mark of the middle stanza made it a 2-2 contest, as his shot from the point was deflected in by Perry.
Phoenix took the lead for good with 3:13 to go in the second. Doan fed the puck into the Anaheim zone. Todd Marchant fanned on a clearing attempt, and Korpikoski made some nifty moves before putting the puck past Ellis.
"We made some mistakes and they capitalized on them," Marchant said.
The Coyotes took a 4-2 lead with 42.8 seconds to go in the second. Ray Whitney slid a pass from behind the net to Schlemko, whose one-timer beat Ellis.
Doan added an empty-net goal late in the third to account for the final margin.
The Ducks and Coyotes split six games this season...Phoenix started a four- game road trip on Sunday...The Coyotes were without Rostislav Klesla and Martin Hanzal due to injury. Whitney missed the previous two games with a lower body injury.
Mar 13 10:17p by Eric Stephen