Sunday, Nov. 01, 2009

Recap: Phoenix vs. Anaheim

Radim Vrbata netted the lone goal in the shootout, as the surprising Phoenix Coyotes defeated the Anaheim Ducks, 3-2, at Jobing.com Arena.

Robert Lang and Vernon Fiddler scored in regulation for the Coyotes, who have won three straight and seven of their last nine games overall. Ilya Bryzgalov made 32 saves in the win.

Corey Perry and Teemu Selanne lit the lamp for the Ducks, who have dropped five of six. Jonas Hiller finished with 30 stops in defeat.

"We got ourselves a lead and then we give up a goal 18 seconds later, which could be a back-breaker," said Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle. "But I thought we battled back and we got ourselves to the shootout. It's not so much about the loss; we're not going to lament the loss. We're not going to get too low with a shootout loss."

Vrbata beat Hiller on the backhand to begin the extra segment, and Bryzgalov turned away Anaheim's trio of Perry, Ryan Getzlaf and Selanne.

Lang opened the scoring via the power play 3:52 into the contest, but Perry answered on the man advantage at 8:01 of the second period.

Selanne blasted a slap shot that slipped between the right arm and torso of Bryzgalov at 10:13 of the third, but Fiddler countered 18 seconds later when he positioned himself at the side of the net and redirected a feed from Sami Lepisto behind Hiller.

"I just tried to get open at the side of the net and Sami had his head up and made an unbelievable play," Fiddler said.

Game Notes