Round 2: Coyotes, Ducks resume mini-series in Phoenix

The Phoenix Coyotes are looking to take advantage of a stretch of three straight games against the Pacific Division-leading Anaheim Ducks.

After drawing first blood over the weekend, the Coyotes look to crawl further up the standings in Monday's rematch versus the Ducks in Phoenix.

These two division rivals opened a span of three games against each other in five days, with the Coyotes logging a 5-4 home victory in a shootout on Saturday. Following Monday's meeting, this mini-series concludes in Anaheim on Wednesday.

Phoenix hopes to be in good shape by that time as Saturday's win pulled it out of last place in the Pacific Division, a point ahead of Los Angeles. It trails second-place San Jose and Dallas by a point, while Anaheim is eight points clear in first place.

Steve Sullivan notched a game-tying goal in the third period over the weekend and then had the lone shootout tally, beating Anaheim's Viktor Fasth between the pads.

Mike Smith, meanwhile, capped his 31-save effort by turning aside all three skaters he faced in the shootout.

"(Smith) made some timely saves," Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett said. "No goalie likes to give up four goals. But if you look at the saves he made, he kept them off the board on their early power play."

Lauri Korpikoski scored twice for the Coyotes, who had lost three of four but bested the Ducks at home for the eighth time in the last 11 meetings. Mikkel Boedker had an assist, giving him five points in his last three games.

Shane Doan, meanwhile, was given an assist on a goal by Matthew Lombardi, the Phoenix captain's 799th career point.

The Ducks lost for just the second time in 10 games despite Andrew Cogliano's second career hat trick. His first also came in Phoenix on Jan. 31 of last year.

"I just got in the right spots, and I don't think Smith was ready for them," Cogliano said of his goals.

Saku Koivu added a goal and two assists, while Fasth finished with 33 saves as the Ducks had a two-game winning streak snapped. They also lost forward Kyle Palmieri to an upper body injury in the first period.

Koivu is four points shy of 800 for his career.

Anaheim has lost six of its last nine versus Phoenix overall.

This is just the second time that the Coyotes are facing an opponent in three straight regular-season games in franchise history. They also faced the Sharks on Nov. 10, 12 and 15 in 2007.

This string of games marks the first time that the Ducks are facing the same team in three straight contests.