GAME THREAD: NHL: PHOENIX (11-10) at MINNESOTA (12-11)

NHL: PHOENIX at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL PHOENIX 1
MINNESOTA 2 18:27 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: PHOENIX at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL PHOENIX 1
MINNESOTA 2 13:05 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: PHOENIX at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL PHOENIX 1
MINNESOTA 3
3RD PRD: MIN - JAMES SHEPPARD 2 (AARON VOROS, MARK PARRISH) 9:26</div>

 

NHL: PHOENIX at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL PHOENIX 1
MINNESOTA 3 10:34 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: PHOENIX at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL PHOENIX 1
MINNESOTA 3 2:05 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: PHOENIX at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
PHOENIX 0 0 1 1
MINNESOTA 0 2 1 3 FINAL

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: NONE
2ND PRD: MIN - STEPHANE VEILLEUX 4 (AARON VOROS, JAMES SHEPPARD) 4:02
MIN - MARIAN GABORIK 9 (UNASSISTED) 17:29
3RD PRD: PHO - RADIM VRBATA 9 (DEREK MORRIS, KEITH BALLARD) 0:27
MIN - JAMES SHEPPARD 2 (AARON VOROS, MARK PARRISH) 9:26

POWER-PLAY CONVERSIONS: PHO - 0 OF 2, MIN - 0 OF 2.

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
PHO 9 6 7 22
MIN 8 11 9 28

GOALIES: PHO - ILJA BRYZGALOV
MIN - NIKLAS BACKSTROM

OFFICIALS: REF - DAN MAROUELLI, MIKE LEGGO
LIN - BRAD LAZAROWICH, PIERRE RACICOT

ATT: 18,568</div>

 

NHL: PHOENIX at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Phoenix 0 0 1 --1
Minnesota 0 2 1 --3
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: None.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Minnesota, Stephane Veilleux 4 (Aaron
Voros, James Sheppard), 4:02. 2, Minnesota, Marian Gaborik 9
(Unassisted), 17:29. Penalties: B Rolston, Min (interference), 0:17;
N Boynton, Pho (holding), 12:08; D Carcillo, Pho (roughing), 17:42; A
Voros, Min (unsportsmanlike cond), 17:42.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Phoenix, Radim Vrbata 9 (Derek Morris,
Keith Ballard), 0:27. 4, Minnesota, James Sheppard 2 (Aaron Voros,
Mark Parrish), 9:26. Penalties: S Hill, Min (interference), 13:15; E
Jovanovski, Pho (roughing), 19:44.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Phoenix 9 6 7 --22
Minnesota 8 11 9 --28
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Phoenix - 0 of 2, Minnesota - 0 of 2. Goalies
: Phoenix, Ilja Bryzgalov (28 shots, 25 saves; record: 6-4-1).
Minnesota, Niklas Backstrom (22 shots, 21 saves; record: 10-4-1). A:
18,568. Referees: Dan Marouelli, Mike Leggo. Linesmen: Brad
Lazarowich, Pierre Racicot.</div>

 

NHL: PHOENIX at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Phoenix 0 0 1 --1
Minnesota 0 2 1 --3
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: None.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Minnesota, Stephane Veilleux 4 (Aaron
Voros, James Sheppard), 4:02. 2, Minnesota, Marian Gaborik 9
(Unassisted), 17:29. Penalties: B Rolston, Min (interference), 0:17;
N Boynton, Pho (holding), 12:08; D Carcillo, Pho (roughing), 17:42; A
Voros, Min (unsportsmanlike cond), 17:42.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Phoenix, Radim Vrbata 9 (Derek Morris,
Keith Ballard), 0:27. 4, Minnesota, James Sheppard 2 (Aaron Voros,
Mark Parrish), 9:26. Penalties: S Hill, Min (interference), 13:15; E
Jovanovski, Pho (roughing), 19:43.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Phoenix 9 6 7 --22
Minnesota 8 11 9 --28
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Phoenix - 0 of 2, Minnesota - 0 of 2. Goalies
: Phoenix, Ilja Bryzgalov (28 shots, 25 saves; record: 6-4-1).
Minnesota, Niklas Backstrom (22 shots, 21 saves; record: 10-4-1). A:
18,568. Referees: Dan Marouelli, Mike Leggo. Linesmen: Brad
Lazarowich, Pierre Racicot.</div>

 

NHL: PHOENIX at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">-----------------------------------------
PHOENIX 0 0 1 --1
MINNESOTA 0 2 1 --3
-----------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: None.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Minnesota, Stephane Veilleux 4 (Aaron
Voros, James Sheppard), 4:02. 2, Minnesota, Marian Gaborik 9
(Unassisted), 17:29. Penalties: B Rolston, Min (interference), 0:17;
N Boynton, Pho (holding), 12:08; D Carcillo, Pho (roughing), 17:42; A
Voros, Min (unsportsmanlike cond), 17:42.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Phoenix, Radim Vrbata 9 (Derek Morris,
Keith Ballard), 0:27. 4, Minnesota, James Sheppard 2 (Aaron Voros,
Mark Parrish), 9:26. Penalties: S Hill, Min (interference), 13:15; E
Jovanovski, Pho (roughing), 19:43.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------------
PHOENIX 9 6 7 --22
MINNESOTA 8 11 9 --28
----------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: PHO - 0 of 2, MIN - 0 of 2. Goalies : Phoenix,
Ilja Bryzgalov (28 shots, 25 saves; record: 6-4-1). Minnesota, Niklas
Backstrom (22 shots, 21 saves; record: 10-4-1). A: 18,568. Referees:
Dan Marouelli, Mike Leggo. Linesmen: Brad Lazarowich, Pierre Racicot.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS

PHOENIX MINNESOTA
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
M Hanzal 0 0 +1 1 M Gaborik 1 0 even 6
C Weller 0 0 -1 0 B Rolston 0 0 even 3
D Carcillo 0 0 -1 0 D Moore 0 0 even 2
M Zigomanis 0 0 -1 1 S Veilleux 1 0 +1 2
M York 0 0 -1 3 M Parrish 0 1 +1 1
R Vrbata 1 0 +1 4 E Belanger 0 0 even 1
S Doan 0 0 even 0 K Carney 0 0 +1 0
K Ballard 0 1 even 2 P Demitra 0 0 even 0
M Tjarnqvist 0 0 -1 0 M Skoula 0 0 +1 1
S Reinprecht 0 0 -1 0 A Voros 0 2 +2 2
D Winnik 0 0 even 0 K Johnsson 0 0 even 2
N Kapanen 0 0 -1 0 N Schultz 0 0 even 2
Z Michalek 0 0 -1 1 S Hill 0 0 +1 0
N Boynton 0 0 -1 2 J Sheppard 1 1 +2 1
M Jones 0 0 -1 1 B Burns 0 0 +1 2
D Morris 0 1 even 1 T Fedoruk 0 0 even 1
E Jovanovski 0 0 -1 4 B Radivojevic 0 0 even 2
P Mueller 0 0 -1 2 P Bouchard 0 0 even 0
F Sjostrom HEALTHY D Boogaard HEALTHY
B Bell HEALTHY K Foster HEAD INJURY
M Foy HEALTHY</div>

 

NHL: PHOENIX at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NHL
PHOENIX 1
MINNESOTA 3</div>

 

ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Ticker) -- Ilya Bryzgalov had to lose atsome point.


Stephane Veilleux and Marian Gaborik scored second-period goalsand rookie James Sheppard tallied in the third to lift theMinnesota Wild to a 3-1 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes onWednesday.


Bryzgalov had won his previous four games with the Coyotes afterbeing claimed off waivers from the defending Stanley Cupchampion Anaheim Ducks on November 17.


Niklas Backstrom made 21 saves for Minnesota to improve to 5-0-0lifetime against Phoenix.


Veilleux opened the scoring just over four minutes into thesecond period.


Sheppard took a shot from the slot that was stopped, butVeilleux corralled the rebound and fed the rookie, who thenpushed the puck to Aaron Voros in the right faceoff circle.

Voros fired a shot that was blocked but fell in front ofVeilleux on the doorstep. The Quebec native fired the shot pastBryzgalov at 4:02 to give the Wild a 1-0 lead.


Minnesota had a pair of strong chances six minutes later, withGaborik getting two breakaway opportunities 30 seconds apart.Bryzgalov denied him both times but could not make the save onthe Slovakian's third try at 17:29 of the second period.

After a turnover in the Wild's zone, Gaborik gained control ofthe puck and skated in on another breakaway. Gaborik madeseveral dekes before slipping the puck past an off-balanceBryzgalov to give Minnesota a 2-0 advantage.


Radim Vrbata ended Backstrom's bid for his third shutout of theseason just 27 seconds into the third period. The Czechredirected a shot from the blue line by defenseman Derek Morrisunderneath Backstrom's right arm and into the net.

The Wild regained a two-goal cushion at 9:26 of the session,when Sheppard scored his second goal of the season.

Voros brought the puck out from behind the net but lost controlas he tried to slip it past Bryzgalov. Sheppard gained controland lifted it over the netminder's left shoulder, givingMinnesota a 3-1 bulge.


Bryzgalov, who made 25 saves, entered the contest with a 1.22goals-against average and .954 save percentage since joining theCoyotes.

 

ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Ticker) -- Ilya Bryzgalov had to lose atsome point.


Stephane Veilleux and Marian Gaborik scored second-period goalsand rookie James Sheppard tallied in the third to lift theMinnesota Wild to a 3-1 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes onWednesday.


Bryzgalov had won his previous four games with the Coyotes afterbeing claimed off waivers from the defending Stanley Cupchampion Anaheim Ducks on November 17.


Niklas Backstrom made 21 saves for Minnesota to improve to 5-0-0lifetime against Phoenix.


Veilleux opened the scoring just over four minutes into thesecond period.


Sheppard took a shot from the slot that was stopped, butVeilleux corralled the rebound and fed the rookie, who thenpushed the puck to Aaron Voros in the right faceoff circle.

Voros fired a shot that was blocked but fell in front ofVeilleux on the doorstep. The Quebec native fired the shot pastBryzgalov at 4:02 to give the Wild a 1-0 lead.


Minnesota had a pair of strong chances six minutes later, withGaborik getting two breakaway opportunities 30 seconds apart.Bryzgalov denied him both times but could not make the save onthe Slovakian's third try at 17:29 of the second period.

After a turnover in the Wild's zone, Gaborik gained control ofthe puck and skated in on another breakaway. Gaborik madeseveral dekes before slipping the puck past an off-balanceBryzgalov to give Minnesota a 2-0 advantage.


Radim Vrbata ended Backstrom's bid for his third shutout of theseason just 27 seconds into the third period. The Czechredirected a shot from the blue line by defenseman Derek Morrisunderneath Backstrom's right arm and into the net.

The Wild regained a two-goal cushion at 9:26 of the session,when Sheppard scored his second goal of the season.

Voros brought the puck out from behind the net but lost controlas he tried to slip it past Bryzgalov. Sheppard gained controland lifted it over the netminder's left shoulder, givingMinnesota a 3-1 bulge.


Bryzgalov, who made 25 saves, entered the contest with a 1.22goals-against average and .954 save percentage since joining theCoyotes.

 

ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Ticker) -- Ilya Bryzgalov had to lose atsome point.


Stephane Veilleux and Marian Gaborik scored second-period goalsand rookie James Sheppard tallied in the third to lift theMinnesota Wild to a 3-1 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes onWednesday.


Bryzgalov had won his previous four games with the Coyotes afterbeing claimed off waivers from the defending Stanley Cupchampion Anaheim Ducks on November 17.


"You know, sometimes we can lose, too," Bryzgalov said.

Niklas Backstrom made 21 saves for Minnesota to improve to 5-0-0lifetime against Phoenix.


Veilleux opened the scoring just over four minutes into thesecond period.


Sheppard took a shot from the slot that was stopped, butVeilleux corralled the rebound and fed the rookie, who thenpushed the puck to Aaron Voros in the right faceoff circle.

Voros fired a shot that was blocked but fell in front ofVeilleux on the doorstep. The Quebec native fired the shot pastBryzgalov at 4:02 to give the Wild a 1-0 lead.


"We're not going to score the finesse-type goals," Sheppardsaid. "We're going to score goals with hard work. So we gotthe puck there, I think about 20 different people hit the puckback and forth, but as soon as they hit it to us, we hit itright back. Eventually, one went in."


"I tried to find the puck at my feet and couldn't find it,"Bryzgalov said.


Minnesota had a pair of strong chances six minutes later, withGaborik getting two breakaway opportunities 30 seconds apart.Bryzgalov denied him both times but could not make the save onthe Slovakian's third try at 17:29 of the second period.

After a turnover in the Wild's zone, Gaborik gained control ofthe puck and skated in on another breakaway. Gaborik madeseveral dekes before slipping the puck past an off-balanceBryzgalov to give Minnesota a 2-0 advantage.


Radim Vrbata ended Backstrom's bid for his third shutout of theseason just 27 seconds into the third period. The Czechredirected a shot from the blue line by defenseman Derek Morrisunderneath Backstrom's right arm and into the net.

"Against a team like this, they're so good defensively, we haveto score dirty goals," Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky said. "Wescored because we went to the net and got a tip. You're notgoing to score too many pretty goals against a team that is aswell-coached as they are."


The Wild regained a two-goal cushion at 9:26 of the session,when Sheppard scored his second goal of the season.

Voros brought the puck out from behind the net but lost controlas he tried to slip it past Bryzgalov. Sheppard gained controland lifted it over the netminder's left shoulder, givingMinnesota a 3-1 bulge.


"We needed to come out here and assert ourselves," Voros said."Keep a tight game, but send pucks to the net. That's kind ofwhat we were concentrating on this week in practice, just getpucks to the net no matter where from - what teams are kind ofdoing to us since we're such a tight team.


"We tried to use that philosophy today, and it paid off."

Wild coach Jacques Lemaire was pleased with his players'willingness to put their bodies on the line.


"(Phoenix) had control of the puck, but guys were in goodposition and trying to get in shooting lanes so they don't getshots on net," Lemaire said. "We did a good job there, verysatisfying."


Bryzgalov, who made 25 saves, entered the contest with a 1.22goals-against average and .954 save percentage since joining theCoyotes.