Stronso

By:_ Damon Markiewicz


Scoresheet
Super Stats
Coyotes Player Stats
Mighty Ducks Player Stats



Entering this past weekend, the Phoenix Coyotes and Mighty Ducks of Anaheim stressed the importance of their home and home series against each other due to the fact that these were divisional games._ After back-to-back contests, neither team gained an advantage in the standings as the two Pacific Division rivals exchanged overtime victories.



A night after the Coyotes snapped their nine game winless streak in overtime, the Mighty Ducks used the extra session to snap a four game losing skid when Petr Sykora’s wrist shot beat Coyotes goaltender Sean Burke 3:43 into overtime giving Anaheim a 2-1 win in front of 14,269 at the Arrowhead Pond._ Phoenix did earn a point in the standings and it was their first loss in the extra frame this year._ The Coyotes now have a record of 4-6-3-1 this season.



“When you get a taste of winning, it makes a team hungry because you want to continue that feeling and we tried to build on Saturday’s momentum tonight,” said Coyotes head coach Bob Francis._ “The back end of a home and home series is always a tough game because both teams know what to expect and that creates great competition._ Sykora fired a perfect shot for the game-winner and they were able to pick up the extra point.”



After stopping 17 of the 18 shots he faced in the first period, goaltender Zac Bierk left the game with a hip flexor injury and didn’t return._ Sean Burke, who earned the win on Saturday night, entered the game in relief at the start of the second period and stopped 28 of 29 shots on goal, including 13 saves in the third period keeping the game tied.



“Sean (Burke) came in and did a great job tonight making key saves when needed and gave us a chance to win the game,” said Francis._ “We want to make sure Zac (Bierk) is healthy, but that is the advantage of having three goaltenders and all three netminders are more than qualified to get the job done.”



The Coyotes knew heading into Sunday’s game that the Ducks would come out strong on their home ice and looking to rebound from Saturday night’s defeat._ For the second straight night, Phoenix fell behind in the opening 20 minutes of play when Steve Rucchin scored a shorthanded goal at 14:17 of the first period giving Anaheim a 1-0 lead.___



“We realized that Anaheim was in a situation where they would be playing with a little more desperation to try and get back on track,” said Francis._ “Teams go through frustrations over the course of a season and we knew they wanted to reestablish themselves on their home ice._ The Ducks are a very quality hockey club and we knew we had to be ready.”



Similar to the previous night, Coyotes left wing Ladislav Nagy answered Rucchin’s goal with a tally of his own late in the second period._ Nagy’s wrist shot beat Anaheim goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere with 1:20 remaining in the middle period tying the score at 1-1._ For Nagy, it was his third goal in his last two games and once again eventually sent the game to overtime.



“I noticed there was a screen in front and tried to pick a corner of the net,” said Nagy, who leads the team in goals with eight._ “I am just trying to shoot the puck when the opportunity is there and so far I have received some fortunate bounces this year.”



The two clubs played a scoreless third period, but the Coyotes almost went ahead late in regulation when Phoenix captain Shane Doan tried to bang a lose puck past Giguere in the final seconds, but the Ducks netminder made the save.



Phoenix’s next game will be on Thursday, November 13 when they host Peter Forsberg and the Colorado Avalanche at AWA._ The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports Net Arizona, KDKB 93.3 (FM) and KDUS 1060 (AM).



NEWS AND NOTES



INJURY UPDATE – Coyotes goaltender Zac Bierk left the game after the first period suffering from a hip flexor injury._ Bierk stopped 17 of the 18 shots he faced in the opening 20 minutes of play._ Sean Burke finished the game making 28 saves in 43:40 of action.



GOLF TOURNAMENT – On Tuesday, November 11 the Coyotes will present their 2003 Coyotes Charities Golf Classic presented by Heritage Graphics._ Coyotes players, coaches, broadcast talent and senior management will tee it up at the Golf Club at Eagle Mountain in Fountain Hills._ This year’s tournament is sold out!



OVERTIME PAY – With Sunday’s game going to overtime, Phoenix is now tied for the National Hockey League lead in overtime games this season with six._ The Coyotes are 2-1-3 in the extra session this year.



STARTING GOALTENDERS



Phoenix – Zac Bierk (3 games, 0-1-2, 3.88 gaa, .879 save percentage)



Anaheim – Jean-Sebastien Giguere (10 games, 1-8-0, 2.99 gaa, .897 save percentage)



TONIGHT’S SCRATCHES



Phoenix – Mike Johnson (Shoulder), Andrei Nazarov (Healthy), Brad Ference (Healthy), Brian Boucher (Healthy)



Anaheim – Mike Leclerc (Knee), Dan Bylsma (Knee), Vitaly Vishnevski (Healthy), Kurt Sauer (Ankle), Garrett Burnett (Healthy)

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