|
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) -- The Phoenix Coyotes nearly waited too
long to salvage a victory in what should be the easiest game on a
tough road trip.
Ossi Vaananen and Trevor Letowski scored less than two minutes
apart late in the third period to rally the Coyotes to a 2-1
victory over the last-place New York Islanders on Saturday night.
Phoenix still must go to Detroit, back to New Jersey to make up
a game originally scheduled for Sunday, then on to Toronto and
Montreal to close out the weeklong trip.
"We got a win," said goalie Sean Burke, who made 27 saves.
"When you travel from out West out here in one day, you don't get
a lot of time to adjust. It's a tough game for us and we were
slugging out there."
Vaananen ruined John Vanbiesbrouck's bid for his 40th career
shutout when he tied it 1-1 with 5:29 left. Vaananen ripped a shot
from just inside the blue line for his third goal this season.
Letowski finished a beautiful passing play 1:43 later for his
third goal. Keith Tkachuk made a perfect pass from the left point
down to Shane Doan to the right of Vanbiesbrouck. Doan slid a pass
to Letowski who beat Vanbiesbrouck to the open side of the net.
"They played a real good game," Letowski said of the
Islanders. "They really clogged it up on us. We didn't really have
a lot of good scoring chances. We knew it was going to be an ugly
game and we played hard. It's funny how the game happens."
Burke, who played a strong third period after a shaky start,
denied several chances in front in the closing minutes while the
Islanders pressed for the tying goal with Vanbiesbrouck off for an
extra skater.
"I battled it a little bit early, but a couple of times they
fired some knuckleballs," Burke said. "The puck was just bouncing
a bit. One of the best saves I had to make all night was in the
first period on (Dave) Scatchard on a long shot. It kind of dropped
about a foot and a half on me.
"Those don't look pretty, but it was a tough save. After that I
felt better and settled in."
Mariusz Czerkawski scored a late second-period goal that gave
New York a 1-0 advantage. Vanbiesbrouck made 22 saves, but the
Islanders (11-23-4-2) lost their third straight.
After a stop-and-start first period, in which the Islanders held
a 6-5 shots advantage, Czerkawski scored his 13th goal this season
-- fourth on the power play -- with only 28.3 seconds left in the
second.
Czerkawski wrapped the puck behind the net to Tim Connolly at
the left boards. Connolly passed into the slot to Aris Brimanis,
who made a quick touch pass to Czerkawski in the right circle for
the shot that beat Burke.
The Coyotes only mounted token scoring chances against
Vanbiesbrouck before finally breaking through. Tkachuk had a
partial breakaway in the second, but Vanbiesbrouck came out to make
a pad save on his drive from the left circle.
"It was definitely a boring game," Letowski said. "We
couldn't generate anything on the rush. We're a team that hasn't
been playing great lately and we can't be taking anybody lightly."
Phoenix also had a short-handed 2-on-1 chance in the third, but
Vanbiesbrouck denied Teppo Numminen at the left post.
"We played a really good hockey game, but we didn't get it
done," Vanbiesbrouck said. "This was a good effort, but that's
all it was. You get nothing for it."
Game notes
Sunday's Coyotes game against New Jersey was moved to
Wednesday because of the New York Giants' NFL playoff game. ...
Phoenix C Juha Ylonen did not play because of a concussion
sustained Thursday night against the New York Rangers. He is day to
day. ... Czerkawski led the Islanders last season with 16
power-play goals. ... Czerkawski's goal snapped New York's home
scoreless streak at 190 minutes, 47 seconds -- spanning four games --
dating to his last goal Dec. 29 against Atlanta.
|
|
ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Phoenix Clubhouse
NY Islanders Clubhouse
RECAPS
New Jersey 5
NY Rangers 5
Colorado 2
Carolina 2
Phoenix 2
NY Islanders 1
Ottawa 4
Montreal 3
Atlanta 2
Philadelphia 2
Washington 3
Toronto 2
Dallas 4
Boston 0
Buffalo 2
Nashville 0
St. Louis 5
Minnesota 1
Los Angeles 5
Calgary 0
Vancouver 4
Columbus 3
San Jose 3
Florida 1
|
