Buzzer beaters are usually reserved for basketball games but Saturday the Phoenix Coyotes (16-13-3) lost to the New York Rangers (17-8-4) as time expired.
The Desert Dogs were looking to start a new winning streak Saturday after breaking out of a three game losing streak Thursday and the Rangers were looking to avoid a three game skid of their own.
The Coyotes took up residence in the penalty box Saturday night, racking up 14 minutes in the game. Phoenix has been the least penalized team in the league, averaging just over eight minutes a game, so Saturday was a departure from what fans are use to seeing.
The Rangers would tie the game on a power play goal from winger Marian Gaborik. Gaborik somehow found his way behind everyone on the ice and easily put away the breakaway opportunity on Mike Smith. The goal was the ninth power play goal given up by the Coyotes in 11 contest.
Scoring late was on the Coyotes side for the first two periods. The Coyotes would tie the game 1-1 shorthanded with just nine seconds left after Boyd Gordon won a face off to Lauri Korpikoski who fired the puck past Martin Biron for his eighth goal of the season.
The second Coyote goal would come from the 29th ranked power play unit. Cal O'reilly, who has played in just 15 games this season for the Coyotes after coming over in a trade from Nashville, would poke home a rebound for his first of the season.
O'reilly was expected to be a solid contributor for the Coyotes and has really picked up his play after sitting as a healthy scratch for a few games. The goal came with less than a minute left before the second intermission.
The two teams would battle for the lead after a second Marian Gaborik goal tied the game at 2-2 one minute into the third, but the game would not be decided until less than a second was left on the clock.
After doing a good job killing off a late Oliver Ekman-Larsson penalty for interference the Coyotes stop playing .1 seconds too soon. A blind backhand shot from Rangers center Brad Richards would hit the post and sneak past the goal line with no time left on the clock.
A video review was needed but the official saw enough evidence to award Richards with the goal and the Rangers a win. Giving up goals late in the period has been a thorn in the Coyotes side all season. They have given up 14 goals in the last minute of periods this season.
The Coyotes will look to bounce back on the road Tuesday against the Florida Panthers.
Roster Move
Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced today that the Coyotes have acquired defenseman David Rundblad and a second round draft choice in the 2012 Entry Draft from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for center Kyle Turris.