The Fifth Liners

After shamefully forgetting to include the Phoenix Coyotes on my Most Improved Teams list recently, I thought I would make amends by recapping their impressive 6-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers Rexall Place last night! Mike Ribeiro was the stand out as he turned a 1st star performance with a goal and two assists! But it was Mikkel Boedker who put Phoenix ahead on a powerplay after 03:37 of the first period, but David Perron soon levelled the scores for the Oilers after 9 minutes after making the most of a breakaway. Into the second period and Ribeiro skillful set up Radim Vrbata to put Phoenix ahead after 06.58 played and then Shane Doan's tip in pushed then 3-1 ahead. Perron then pulled one back on a power play for Edmonton with 52 seconds left to give the home side hope! The Coyotes took control in the third period as they scored three without reply with Ribeiro putting them further ahead after 4 minutes and Keith Yandle then made sure of things when fired past Oilers goal...

While the Phoenix Coyotes ' troubles off the ice seem to be resolved for now, any uncertainty about the team's future was definitely not reflected on the ice. The Coyotes really brought the game to the Rangers last night, ruining Alain Vigneault's debut. Kyle Chipchura netted first for Phoenix only a few minutes into the game after an error by Henrik Lundqvist allowed Rob Klinkhammer to set up Chipchura for the opener. The Jobing.com arena gave the Phoenix keeper a standing ovation after Mike Smith made a sprawling double save to keep the Coyotes in the lead.  The Rangers upped their game but the first period finished with the Coyotes leading 1-0. The second period brought more goals, Marc Staal cancelled out the Coyotes' lead during a Rangers powerplay. The game didn't stay tied for long though, Radim Vrbata was alert to a rebounding puck to fire past Lundqvist just before the halfway point of the game. The second period finished without inc...