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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – The Phoenix Coyotes were like little kids
before their game Friday night. Can you blame them?
|  | | The Coyotes gave part-owner Wayne Gretzky a winning debut Friday night in Raleigh, N.C. |
With new owner Wayne Gretzky on hand evaluating the talent, the
Coyotes shook off a case of the nerves to beat the Carolina
Hurricanes 2-0.
"He's undefeated. We're undefeated under this new (ownership)
group," Phoenix coach Bob Francis said of Gretzky as the Coyotes
went 10 games over .500 for the third time this season.
"This is a good way to start," Francis added. "The guys
obviously wanted to make a good impression."
Phoenix generated just 18 shots on Carolina backup goalie Tyler
Moss and was 0-for-4 on the power play, but Keith Tkachuk's goal
and Robert Esche's second career shutout was enough to give the
Coyotes their fourth win in five games.
"Just being around him before the game was great," Tkachuk
said of the Great One.
Esche stopped 33 shots, 13 in the third period, as the
Hurricanes gave up a short-handed empty-net goal to Mike Sullivan,
shot from his own faceoff circle with 33 seconds left.
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Fighting words
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Apparently Jeff O'Neill is not a fan of Phoenix's Jeremy Roenick.
After
getting slashed by Roenick late in Friday's 2-0 loss, O'Neill
lashed out at the Coyotes sniper.
"The man is a goon, that's
the bottom line," O'Neill said. "I hate him and have no respect
for him. He's an idiot.
"I got an opportunity to meet him last
night at a restaurant and things were pretty smooth. Then
tonight happened. He's an arrogant man and an arrogant player.
That's just his deal."
Roenick received a two-minute penalty for the slash at 18:39 of the third period.
– ESPN.com news services
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"It was a playoff style game out there," Francis said. "There
wasn't much time and space and it was physical for both teams.
"Both teams needed these two points and when you win a
hard-fought game like that you feel much better getting the win,"
Francis added.
Gretzky and managing partner Steve Ellman completed their
purchase of the Coyotes on Thursday and then the NHL's career
scoring leader flew to North Carolina to watch his new club.
While Phoenix improved to 22-0-6 when leading after two, the
Hurricanes fell to 1-5 at the Entertainment and Sports Arena since
a nine-game home unbeaten streak in January.
"They know we played a little better than them tonight and we
didn't get the win," Carolina's Jeff O'Neill said. "When a goalie
is hot like that it just seems like it finds a way to hit him and
he had one of those nights."
Tkachuk scored his team-leading 25th of the season from the slot
with 6:14 left in the second period. The captain's goal was just
the 10th shot on Moss as the Coyotes generated few scoring chances.
"He was almost on his toes and I didn't think he was going to
get a good shot away, and he roofed it," Moss said of Tkachuk's
game-winner. "That's probably why he's a 50-goal scorer."
Tkachuk's goal came three minutes after Carolina defenseman
David Tanabe had a pair of great scoring chances from in close,
then poked the puck past Esche, who started his third straight game
in place of injured Sean Burke (bruised knee). But the referees
lost sight of the puck and Tanabe's goal was disallowed.
"If a lot of those guys had the same opportunities back they
probably would have made better shots, but they were just hitting
me in the stomach," Esche said.
The Hurricanes, as part of an ongoing league-wide recognition of
Gretzky, honored him between the first and second periods by
hanging a banner that read "Gretzky 99 Forever."
"If I would have known you were going to be this nice I would
have brought my skates," Gretzky told the crowd of 13,812.
Game notes
Arturs Irbe started 43 of Carolina's last 44 games in goal
before missing Friday night's game with a groin injury. ... Keith
Carney played in his 223rd straight game for Phoenix – the fourth
longest streak in the NHL. ... Phoenix is the only NHL team not to
be shut out this season. ... Carolina fell to 4-11-3-1 against the
Western Conference.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Phoenix Clubhouse
Carolina Clubhouse
Gretzky doesn't waste time getting going with Coyotes
In the Corners: Same old Gretzky
Melrose: Gretzky still driven to be the Great One
Pang: Burke or Khabibulin?
Rovell: Saving Coyotes not so easy
RECAPS
Phoenix 2
Carolina 0
Detroit 4
Columbus 2
Florida 2
Boston 1
Pittsburgh 4
New Jersey 4
Chicago 6
St. Louis 2
Los Angeles 4
Minnesota 0
San Jose 2
Nashville 0
Dallas 3
Anaheim 2
NY Islanders 4
Edmonton 2
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Keith Tkachuk shows his moves and goes top shelf for a goal.
avi: 415 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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