Ducks Lose To Coyotes In Shootout For Second Time In Series
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — For Oliver Ekman-Larsson and the Phoenix Coyotes, the encore was as productive as the original.
Ekman-Larsson scored in the fifth round of the shootout and Mike Smith stopped Bobby Ryan to help the Phoenix Coyotes beat the Anaheim Ducks 5-4 on Monday night, their second shootout win over the Pacific Division leaders in 48 hours.
"It's nice to win when you don't play very good," said Ekman-Larsson, who put the puck into the crook of his stick before firing over Jonas Hiller's right shoulder. "But we'll take the two points for sure."
Andrew Vermette, Shane Doan, Michael Stone and Keith Yandle scored for the Coyotes in regulation. Phoenix also beat the Ducks by a 5-4 score in a shootout Saturday night.
The consecutive wins have moved the Coyotes from 10th in the Western Conference to fourth and pulled Phoenix within eight points of Anaheim.
Steve Sullivan also scored in the shootout for Phoenix, which has won three of four.
"We'll take the points," said Coyotes coach Dave Tippett. "They're tight games. They (the Ducks) don't need many chances to score or look very dangerous. They've proven to be one of the top teams in the league."
Ryan Getzlaf had a goal, two assists and scored in the shootout, and Ryan, Corey Perry and Matt Beleskey scored for the Ducks, who have lost consecutive games for the first time this season.
"It better not be catching up to us because we have more than half the season to go," said Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau. "We're putting out guys who should be able to play and should be able to defend. It's not acceptable. If we want to be a good team, we've got to do this."
The teams traded four goals over a six-minute stretch of the third period.
Perry had given the Ducks a 3-2 lead early in the period when he redirected Getzlaf's shot from the left circle past Smith. But Doan answered 11 seconds later, taking a pass from Kyle Chipchura and beating Hiller from just inside the right circle.
"I like our ability that when it goes in the net, we can claw back a bit," Tippett said.
Ryan put Anaheim back in front off a pass from Nick Bonino after Rostislav Klesla bounced an attempted clear off Andrew Cogliano to Smith's left.
Again the Coyotes answered quickly, with Stone blasting a shot between Hiller's pads from the left point 78 seconds later. Originally, the goal was awarded to Matthew Lombardi.
"Two or three of the goals were bad goals and you want to get them back," Hiller said. "These things find a way through even though you think you're there and playing big."
Chipchura had the best opportunity in overtime, skating behind the Ducks' defense to take a long outlet pass with just over a minute left. Hiller made the pad save.
Beleskey opened the scoring midway in the first period, slipping a shot between Smith's pads. Vermette tied the game 54 seconds into the second, putting home a long rebound off Hiller's left pad into the vacated left side of the net from the top of the crease.
Phoenix took its first lead on Yandle's blast from the top of the left circle. Getzlaf evened the score 2-2 with 7.8 seconds to go in the second period, taking a pass from Perry after the right wing stole the puck from Yandle in the neutral zone.
Hiller made 36 saves, while Smith finished with 27.
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