Ducks hang on against Coyotes
Last Updated: Sunday, November 8, 2009 | 2:44 AM ET
The Associated Press
Mike Brown's goal off a faceoff in the third period became a surprising game-winner as the Anaheim Ducks held on for a 4-3 win over the visiting Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday night.
After building a 4-0 lead on goals by Teemu Selanne, Bobby Ryan, Corey Perry and Brown, the Ducks surrendered three quick tallies to Phoenix in an eight-minute span of the third period.
Jonas Hiller made several of his 27 saves over the final minutes to secure the victory for the Ducks, who ended a brief three-game homestand with consecutive wins. It was the second time this season Anaheim has won two in a row.
"It's a win, that's what we need right now," said Hiller, who had made 40 saves in a 4-0 victory over Nashville on Thursday.
Scott Niedermayer had two assists for Anaheim.
Hiller held an identical lead seven minutes into the final period against Phoenix, but Keith Yandle and Scottie Upshall scored within a 38-second span to end Hiller's bid for consecutive shutouts.
Shane Doan added a power-play goal with 5:24 to play to make it 4-3.
"We gave up one goal and everyone was a little worried back there, not playing our game," Hiller said. "We were too passive. We didn't do what we did for the first two periods."
Mathew Lombardi had two assists for the Coyotes.
"It seems like it's a lot easier to play when you are down like that, with no consequences," Coyotes defenceman James Vandermeer said. "It's good to see that our team didn't quit, but we can't allow teams to get a jump on us like that."
Phoenix entered the game with the second best goals-against-average in the NHL, but the Coyotes were missing three of their top defencemen.
Ed Jovanovski was scratched after sustaining a lower-body injury in a 3-1 victory over Chicago on Thursday. The veteran defenceman was tied with Doan for the team lead in scoring (13 points) and fifth in overall scoring by defencemen.
Phoenix was also without top defenceman Zbynek Michalek, who missed a second game because of a lower-body injury. Kurt Sauer has been sidelined since opening night.
Working on a power play in the opening minutes, Selanne gathered a pass from Niedermayer in the slot and quickly swiped the puck past Ilya Bryzgalov for a 1-0 lead.
Each team had trouble developing quality scoring chances until the 12th minute of the second period when Niedermayer whisked a pass from the Anaheim blue line to Ryan as he cut into the Phoenix zone.
Ryan then snapped a 40-foot shot from the right circle past Bryzgalov.
Just 4:23 later, Perry fired in a feed from Ryan Getzlaf to put Anaheim in control.
Getzlaf and Perry both extended their point streaks to eight games. Perry has seven goals and five assists during the run. Getzlaf has one goal and 11 assists.
Brown scored off a faceoff early in the third before the Coyotes began their late rally.
