Coyotes Extend Win Streak to Six in 2-1 Win Over Lightning

Giving this one the short treatment because it's been a busy night...

The Coyotes may have only had the offense really running for one full period, but that's all they really needed in the end. Vernon Fiddler started the scoring early when he put in a nice one timer from the slot on a Lee Stempniak pass. Stempniak chased a dump-in and just worked harder to get there first. Fiddler collapsed toward the net and Stempniak just put it right in the wheelhouse for him only 7:56 in. It wouldn't take long for the Coyotes to increase their lead as less than two minutes later Matthew Lombardi wristed one in past Antero Niittymaki to make it 2-0. Shane Doan, Wojtek Wolski and Lombardi all entered the zone with speed and just did a little tic tac toe to get it to lombardi speeding down the middle. He just put it right between Niittymaki's pads for a really pretty one. That was about all the offense the Coyotes had today as they wouldn't find the back of the net again.

In the second the Lightning looked much more determined to play their game. THey limited the Coyotes to only 6 shots in the period compared to their 13. Late in the period it would be former Coyote Todd Fedoruk that got the Bolts on the board. It was a nice move that got him in position as he and Brandon Bochenski found some room in the middle. Bochenski made a nice pass that Fedoruk just had to get a piece of and redirected it over Bryzgalov's right pad. 

The third period was more of the same, but Phoenix really did a good job of locking down on defense and not allowing the Lightning to get into much of a rhythm. Though the Lightning had their chances the Coyotes always seemed to get the matchups they wanted making smart changes, especially late. With minutes to go the Coyotes weren't even letting Tampy Bay out of it's defensive zone, penning in both the play and Antero Niittymaki who was trying to get off the ice for the extra attacker. The Coyotes held on for their 43rd win of the season and their 6th straight. 

The Coyotes end the roadtrip on Thursday when they face the Florida Panthers. The Game will be back on FSN after the last 3 were radio only.