Taylor Pyatt scored in the third period to help the Phoenix Coyotes beat the Calgary Flames 2-1 on Thursday.
Pyatt’s wrist shot beat in-form goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff and sealed the Coyotes’ (16-11-1) third successive victory, while it was the first road defeat in regulation for the Northwest Division-leading Flames (17-7-3) since Oct. 13.
“I thought it took us a few minutes to get up to speed and realize if this is how they’re going to play we better match it,” Coyotes coach Dave Tippett told reporters. “We brought some trouble on ourselves [turning over pucks] but I thought in the second period we were really strong.”
PHOTO: AFP
Calgary took the lead on a wrist shot by David Moss with one second remaining in the first period before Petr Prucha tied the game for Phoenix at 9:40 in the second.
The Coyotes entered the game having scored eight goals in their previous two games though they were facing an in-form Kiprusoff, who had shutouts in his previous two starts. Kiprusoff still finished with 29 saves.
Phoenix netminder Ilya Bryzgalov made 28 saves to help his team turn the tables on Calgary, who had beaten the Coyotes 2-1 last week.
“We didn’t play well enough,” Calgary coach Brent Sutter said. “Our work ethic was fine, but we didn’t work smart and made too many mistakes.”
PENGUINS 4, AVALANCHE 1
In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Sidney Crosby had two goals and an assist for the hosts in a 4-1 win over Colorado as the Penguins retained a share of the NHL Eastern Conference lead.
Crosby scored in the first period, added an empty-net goal, and assisted on Bill Guerin’s tally to give him 11 points in three games.
BLUES 3, SHARKS 2, SO
In San Jose, California, T.J. Oshie and Andy McDonald scored during the shootout to lift St Louis over the hosts.
St Louis’ Carlo Colaiacovo scored a short-handed goal with 7 seconds remaining to tie it 2-2 and force overtime.
Patrick Marleau netted a goal in the shootout for the Sharks, who had a three-game winning streak stopped. Dany Heatley and Joe Pavelski scored in regulation.
Jay McClement had the other regulation goal for the Blues.
CAPITALS 6, PANTHERS 2
In Washington, Alexander Semin had two goals and two assists in his return from a wrist injury as Washington breezed past Florida.
The Capitals hardly missed the suspended Alex Ovechkin and notched a fourth straight victory. Washington is 5-1-1 without Ovechkin this season.
Brendan Morrison had a goal and two assists, and Tomas Fleischmann, Matt Bradley and Nicklas Backstrom also scored.
KINGS 6, SENATORS 3
In Los Angeles, Drew Doughty netted the tie-breaking goal and Wayne Simmonds scored a penalty as Los Angeles beat Ottawa.
After Doughty’s goal in the second period, Justin Williams added two insurance goals in the final 2:33. Randy Jones and Brad Richardson also scored for Los Angeles.
ISLANDERS 4, THRASHERS 1
In Atlanta, Georgia, Matt Moulson scored a hat trick as New York snapped the hosts’ four-game winning streak.
It was the first career hat trick for Moulson. Rookie forward John Tavares scored into an empty net with 1 second remaining.
The Thrashers took a 1-0 lead via Slava Kozlov in the first period.
In other NHL action, it was:
• Sabres 6, Canadiens 2
• Canucks 3, Flyers 0
• Stars 3, Ducks 1
• Oilers 4, Red Wings 1
• Maple Leafs 6, Blue Jackets 3
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