Friday, March 22, 2013
Sports News


Canucks top Coyotes 2-1 on Schroeder's late goal

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[March 22, 2013]  GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Jordan Schroeder scored midway through the third period, Cory Schneider stopped 33 shots and the Vancouver Canucks grinded out a 2-1 win over the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday night.

Schneider allowed a tying goal to Antoine Vermette in the third period, but Schroeder put the Canucks back up by punching in a rebound after a redirect by Jannik Hansen trickled past Coyotes goalie Jason LaBarbera.

Christopher Tanev also scored and Schneider made some big saves down the stretch, including a semi breakaway by Martin Hanzal, to secure Vancouver's fourth win in six games.

LaBarbera stopped 14 shots in the third period after replacing injured starter Mike Smith for the Coyotes, who have lost five straight.

The Canucks have been hit hard by injuries, losing center Manny Malhotra for the season to an eye injury and center Ryan Kesler since the start of March with shoulder and wrist injuries.

The list has gotten longer recently.

Left wing Chris Higgins was out against the Coyotes after tweaking his back, and wingers Steve Pinizzotto (illness) and Zack Kassian (back) didn't make the trip to the desert. Left wing David Booth also missed his third straight game with a leg injury, leaving Vancouver with 11 healthy forwards.

Vancouver got the first goal when Tanev converted a wrister from the slot in the first period after taking a pass from Mason Raymond and waiting for two colliding players in front to clear.

The Canucks appeared to lose another forward in the second period when Daniel Sedin left after a hard collision with Smith, but he returned later in the period.

Smith stayed in the game after shaking his right arm, but was replaced by LaBarbera to start the third.

The defensive-minded Coyotes have struggled to score for years, but their latest can't-put-it-in-the-net run was ugly even for them.

[to top of second column]

Starting with a 3-0 loss at St. Louis on March 14, Phoenix went 245 minutes, 32 seconds and 133 straight shots without scoring a goal. The Coyotes were shut out three straight games for the first time in the franchise's 33-year NHL history and four straight games on the road, the first time that's happened since the Oakland Seals went goal-less in four straight in 1967-68.

Phoenix finally saw a glimmer of hope in its last game, even though it was a loss.

The Coyotes were sparked by captain Shane Doan, who scored two goals in the third period and finished with 13 hits and 11 shots, the first NHL player to have nine-or-more shots and 11-or-more hits in a game.

Phoenix generated some good opportunities early against Vancouver, but had trouble getting shots off with the Canucks doing a good job of getting their sticks in the way. Anything that got on net, Schneider was there to turn away.

Phoenix managed to tie it in the third when Vermette punched in a rebound of a hard shot by Radim Vrbata caromed off Schneider and the crossbar.

But that was it for the Coyotes.

NOTES: Vermette's goal was Phoenix's first on the power play in four games. ... Vancouver's Henrik Sedin played his 611th consecutive game. Calgary's Jay Bouwmeester is the only active player with more at 616.

[Associated Press; By JOHN MARSHALL]

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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