SB Nation Arizona - Bryzgalov's Shutout Leads Coyotes To Win Over Visiting Blue Jacketshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46593/arizona-fave.png2011-03-24T23:18:07-07:00http://arizona.sbnation.com/rss/stream/18343512011-03-24T23:18:07-07:002011-03-24T23:18:07-07:00Coyotes Maintain Playoff Position, Blank Blue Jackets 3-0
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<div>The Coyotes game an unwelcome homecoming to a couple of their former mates, with Scottie Upshall and Sami Lepisto returning to Jobing.com Arena on the losing side of a 3-0 game.</div>
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<div>The two were shipped to the Blue Jackets in a surprising deal at the trade deadline, in the deal that netted the Yotes a solid defenseman, in Rostislav Klesla.</div>
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<div>Aside from the fact that a couple of fan favorites were returning to the desert, the two were relatively quiet. This was a theme for the rest of the Columbus Blue Jackets, who could not manage a goal in Thursday's 3-0 affair.</div>
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<div>The Coyotes wouldn't need a ton of offense in this one, but got the necessary contributions, despite another slow start offensively.</div>
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<div>The first goal came early in the second, when Vernon Fiddler shot a cross-ice pass to Michal Rozsival, who was left wide open to the left of Columbus netminder Mathieu Garon. Rozsival easily flicked the one-timer past Garon for the 1-0 lead.</div>
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<div>Later in the second, the Yotes' blue line struck again. On a 3-on-1 rush, Shane Doan was unable to pot the pass from Taylor Pyatt, but Garon did leave a rebound floating around for Derek Morris to find. The veteran d-man picked it up and worked it around Garon for the game's second goal.</div>
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<div>The crushing blow came with five minutes to go in the game, with Mikkel Boedker picking up the rebound from a Keith Yandle blast from the point and putting it past Garon. </div>
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<div>But the story of the night was the big wall in the crease that was Ilya Bryzgalov. In earning his seventh shutout of the season, Bryz made 28 saves, and never really gave Columbus a chance to climb into this one.</div>
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<div>The win gives the Coyotes a bit of revenge for their previous 5-3 loss to the Jackets, and gives them their third win in four games against Columbus this season.</div>
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<div>Thursday's game leaves the Coyotes with just a half-dozen games for the remainder of the year. With the win, they were able to stay three points ahead of the Los Angeles Kings, but the Kings also have two games in hand over the Yotes, having played just 74 games.</div>
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<div>Sitting just two points back of the San Jose Sharks for third, though, the Coyotes have an early "playoff" game awaiting them on Saturday. They'll meet those Sharks, who the Coyotes have struggled against this season, losing all three tilts they've had to this point.</div>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/phoenix-coyotes/2011/3/24/2071131/coyotes-maintain-playoff-position-blank-blue-jackets-3-0RandallPnkFloyd2011-03-24T15:13:27-07:002011-03-24T15:13:27-07:00Penalty Kill The Key As Coyotes Host Columbus Blue Jackets
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<p>The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/phoenix-coyotes" class="sbn-auto-link">Phoenix Coyotes</a> will continue their playoff charge when they host the <a href="https://www.jacketscannon.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Columbus Blue Jackets</a> on Thursday night, at Jobing.com Arena. The two squads last met on February 25th, with the Blue Jackets taking home the 5-3 win, in a contest that saw the Coyotes surrender a trio of power play goals.</p>
<p>Their penalty kill will be the key to defeat the Blue Jackets, who have set a franchise record for road wins this season. While the Columbus power play is nothing special, the Coyotes rank 27th in the NHL on the PK, stopping just 78 percent of opposing chances against the man advantage.</p>
<p>Phoenix's last few contests have not only drawn concerns on the penalty kill, but also on their offense. After managing just one fluke goal against Chicago on Sunday, the Coyotes managed just a pair against St. Louis on Tuesday. Yet, this defensive-oriented club keeps finding ways to win.</p>
<p>Even with their recent issues getting the puck in the net, the Yotes are still 11th in the league in goals per game.</p>
<p>On the injury front, nothing has changed for Phoenix, who will still be without both forward <span>Martin Hanzal</span> and defenseman <span>Ed Jovanovski</span> on Thursday.</p>
<p>As the playoffs get closer, the Coyotes continue to look like they're destined for, at least, the fourth seed in the Western Conference. However, with 75 games played, more than any other team fighting for one of those playoff spots, outside of Calgary, there's no time for Phoenix to take anyone lightly.</p>
<p><i>In what is sure to be a low-scoring affair, check out our own <a href="http://www.fiveforhowling.com">Five for Howling</a> for your in-game updates.</i></p>
<p>Programming Update:</p>
<p>Listed below is the Coyotes complete TV schedule for the remainder of the 2010-11 regular season:</p>
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<li>Saturday, March 26 versus San Jose Sharks - FOX Sports Arizona (HD)</li>
<li>Tuesday, March 29 versus Dallas Stars - FOX Sports Arizona (HD)</li>
<li>Friday, April 1 versus Colorado Avalanche - FOX Sports Arizona PLUS (HD)</li>
<li>Wednesday, April 6 at Los Angeles Kings - FOX Sports Arizona (HD)</li>
<li><b>Friday, April 8 versus San Jose Sharks - 3TV (KTVK)</b></li>
<li>Saturday, April 9 at San Jose Sharks - FOX Sports Arizona PLUS (HD)</li>
</ul>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/2011/3/24/2332132/penalty-kill-the-key-as-coyotes-host-columbus-blue-jacketsRandallPnkFloyd