Coyotes move into playoff contention after 2-1 OT win over Flames

Here’s a stat for you: the Phoenix Coyotes are 21-4-5 when they score first. Make that 22-4-5 now, after their 2-1-overtime victory over the Calgary Flames. 

Shane Doan got the game winning goal 3:05 into the extra session. It was his 16^th of the season. It was the only power play goal scored by either team in the game. 

By virtue of their win, and Minnesota’s 5-2 home loss to Vancouver, the Coyotes are now eighth in the Western Conference with 60 points. 

Forward Taylor Pyatt gave the Coyotes the 1-0 lead in the first period with his seventh tally of the season. 

“It was a real solid game for us, a real crucial game for us,” Pyatt said. 

“They’re right behind us in the standings, and we want to continue to roll and we came out with a win tonight.” 

The Coyotes are on a roll, to say the least. They are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games, and 6-3-2 in their last 11 home games. 

The Coyotes outshot the Flames 36-23 in the game. 

Head coach Dave Tippett talked about goalie Mike Smith, and his 22 saves. 

“He made some key saves at the right times,” Tippett said. “Fortunately our power play got us a big goal in overtime.” 

Neither team had a penalty in the first period, but made up for that with 11 penalties the rest of the way out. 

Defenseman Keith Yandle had three of Phoenix’s five penalties for a total of six minutes of power play time. 

The road for the Coyotes doesn’t get any easier after Wednesday night. They welcome in the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday night, before heading to Vancouver and Los Angeles next Monday and Thursday, respectively. 

Of their final 27 games, 26 of them will be against Western Conference opponents. 

An ugly win is an ugly win, and Tippett will take them anyway he and his team can get them. 

“It was just not a pretty game at all,” Tippett said. “We’ll take the points, stick those in the bank and move on.”