Published November 20, 2014
Radim Vrbata's shootout goal completed Phoenix's late comeback and gave the Coyotes a 5-4 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night.
Down 4-1 in the final period, the Coyotes got goals from Mikkel Boedker and Ray Whitney to get within one by the middle of the frame. Martin Hanzal tied it with 1:57 left in regulation.
After Kyle Turris was stopped by Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard in the shootout, Vrbata put a backhander in behind him to win it.
Ilya Bryzgalov stopped Pavel Datsyuk in the tiebreaker, and attempts by Jiri Hudler and Todd Bertuzzi to extend the shootout hit the post.
Phoenix snapped a five-game losing streak and stretched Detroit's skid to three games (0-1-2). The Red Wings went 2-1-2 on a five-game road trip.
The Coyotes got off to a rough start.
Just 2:04 in, Detroit forward Drew Miller flipped the puck on net from deep in the left circle and got it between Bryzgalov's pads. It was the Red Wings' first shot of the game.
Phoenix had two power plays in the first period, but failed to tie the game. The Coyotes had the 21st ranked power-play unit coming into the night, and had worked to improve it earlier Saturday.
Johan Franzen scored his 27th goal, and Red Wings-leading 10th on the power play, with 3:03 left in the first period to give Detroit a 2-0 lead.
The Coyotes cut the deficit in half with 1:19 remaining when Turris flipped in a wrist shot for his 11th goal.
The power play drought for Phoenix continued in the second period when the Coyotes failed on three chances. They had other opportunities at even strength but Ray Whitney was stopped on a breakaway, Martin Hanzel was denied by Howard 5 minutes in, and Eric Belanger's backhander in front was gloved by Howard halfway through the frame.
Detroit's special teams, however, continued to click. Darren Helm scored a short-handed goal with 13 seconds left in the second period to make it 4-1.
The Wings scored four goals on their first 14 shots of the game.
Notes: The game was the third home sellout for Phoenix. ... The Coyotes recalled RW Brett MacLean, who was the leading scorer at San Antonio of the AHL. ... Detroit D Nicklas Lidstrom had two assists, giving him 1,100 points in the NHL.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/vrbata-helps-rallying-coyotes-top-wings-in-so