Phoenix 3, Pittsburgh 1
When: 8:00 PM ET, Saturday, February 1, 2014
Where: Jobing.com Arena, Glendale, Arizona
Referees:
Greg Kimmerly, Brad Watson
Linesmen:
Brad Lazarowich, Jay Sharrers
Attendance:
17362
By SportsDirect Inc.
Coyotes 3, Penguins 1: Mike Ribeiro scored a goal and set up another as host Phoenix snapped its three-game losing streak against Pittsburgh.
Defenseman Zbynek Michalek netted a rare tally and Radim Vrbata also scored for the Coyotes, who improved to 2-1-0 on their five-game homestand. Mike Smith finished with 23 saves as Phoenix won for just the eighth time in 23 contests (8-10-5).
Evgeni Malkin scored the lone goal for the Penguins, who suffered their first regulation loss against a Pacific Division opponent this season (8-1-1). Marc-Andre Fleury turned aside 27 shots as Pittsburgh failed to become the second team to reach the 80-point plateau (Anaheim, 85).
Ribeiro gave Phoenix the lead with 7:18 remaining in the first period, beating a screened Fleury with a wrist shot from the top of the right faceoff circle. Michalek made it 2-0 midway through the second with a blast from the right point as Fleury's vision again was blocked by a Coyote in front.
Pittsburgh halved the deficit five minutes later as James Neal made a cross-slot pass from the left circle to Malkin, who whipped the puck past a sprawling Smith. Vrbata restored the two-goal advantage at 4:13 of the third, beating Fleury to the short side with a shot from the left circle during a 2-on-1 rush.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Malkin has scored in two straight contests and four of his last six. ... Michalek ended an 83-game drought with his goal. He last tallied on March 5, 2012 - against the Coyotes while a member of the Penguins. ... Vrbata's goal was just his second in 18 contests. ... Penguins C Sidney Crosby has gone four games without a tally. The captain was kept off the scoresheet for the 12th time this season but fourth in his last nine games. ... Pittsburgh D Kris Letang missed his second straight game due to illness.
Top Game Performances
Pittsburgh |
|
Phoenix |
Evgeni Malkin 1 |
Points |
Mike Ribeiro 2 |
Evgeni Malkin 1 |
Goals |
Mike Ribeiro 1 |
Jussi Jokinen 1 |
Assists |
Mike Ribeiro 1 |
N/A |
Power Play Goals |
N/A |
N/A |
Short Handed Goals |
N/A |
Marc-Andre Fleury .900 |
Save Percentage |
Mike Smith .958 |
Marc-Andre Fleury 27 |
Saves |
Mike Smith 23 |
Team Stats Summary
Team |
Shots |
Goals |
Power Play |
Penalty Kill |
Penalty Mins |
Face Offs Won |
Pittsburgh
|
24 |
1 |
0-2 |
4-4 |
12 |
24 |
Phoenix
|
30 |
3 |
0-4 |
2-2 |
8 |
28 |
Upcoming Games
-
Phoenix will play their next game at home against Dallas. The Coyotes have a W/L % of .423 after a win and .517 after a loss.
-
Pittsburgh will play their next game at home against Ottawa. The Penguins have a W/L % of .692 after a win and .688 after a loss.