Coyotes 4, Avalanche 0: Mike Smith returned from a head injury to make 24 saves and captain Shane Doan and Martin Hanzal each recorded a goal and an assist as host Phoenix extended its point streak to six games (4-0-2).
Mikkel Boedker and Boyd Gordon also scored while Radim Vrbata and defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson notched two assists apiece for the Coyotes, who completed a perfect three-game homestand and climbed within two points of idle St. Louis for eighth place in the Western Conference.
Smith, who had been sidelined since being steamrolled by Vancouver blue-liner Alex Edler on March 21, turned aside five shots in the first period, 10 in the second and nine in the third en route to his 24th career shutout. He pulled into a tie with Nashville's Pekka Rinne for the league lead with five blankings apiece.
Boedker gave Smith all the offensive support he needed 1:46 into the game as he fired a shot from high in the right faceoff circle just inside the left post. Hanzal converted a 2-on-none rush created by a bad Colorado line change during a power play at 3:06 of the second period to double the lead, and Gordon and Doan tallied later in the session to provide the final margin.
Semyon Varlamov finished with 24 saves for the Avalanche, who have won only one of their last nine games (1-7-1).
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Coyotes outscored their opponents 11-3 during their homestand. ... Colorado has won only two of the last 12 games in the all-time series and just one of its last nine visits to Phoenix. ... Avalanche D Matt Hunwick led all players with 24:27 of ice time.
Colorado | Phoenix | |
N/A | Points | Shane Doan 2 |
N/A | Goals | Shane Doan 1 |
N/A | Assists | Oliver Ekman-Larsson 2 |
N/A | Power Play Goals | Martin Hanzal 1 |
N/A | Short Handed Goals | N/A |
Semyon Varlamov .857 | Save Percentage | Mike Smith 1.000 |
Semyon Varlamov 24 | Saves | Mike Smith 24 |
Team | Shots | Goals | Power Play | Penalty Kill | Penalty Mins | Face Offs Won |
Colorado | 24 | 0 | 0-4 | 3-4 | 8 | 25 |
Phoenix | 28 | 4 | 1-4 | 4-4 | 8 | 25 |