Oilers 4 Coyotes 3
PHOENIX — Dustin Penner scored with 21 seconds left in regulation and the Edmonton Oilers got a rare power-play goal to beat the Phoenix Coyotes 4-3 on Tuesday night and end a five-game losing streak.
Taylor Hall scored early in the third period, Edmonton’s second goal in 54 power-play chances, and Linus Omark scored 72 seconds later to put the Oilers up 3-2.
Phoenix tied it on Scottie Upshall’s second goal, but Edmonton turned up the offensive pressure, with Hall setting up Penner’s winner.
Jean-Francois Jacques also scored for the Oilers, who won for the third time in 17 games.
Kyle Turris had a goal and newly selected all-star Keith Yandle two assists for Phoenix in one of its most disappointing losses of the season.
The Coyotes have been in a little funk since streaking 4-0-1 into January.
Since beating Anaheim 6-2 on Jan. 15, Phoenix had lost three of four, including 4-3 to the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday after a lacklustre opening period.
Part of the reason could be that the Coyotes are worn out.
Phoenix played 16 games in 27 days, getting consecutive days off just once. Edmonton marked the Coyotes’ final home game before the all-star break, but they have to turn around and face Colorado on the road Wednesday night — their 12th back-to-back after having a dozen all last season.
Edmonton figured to be just the opponent Phoenix needed.
The Oilers have had trouble no matter what the schedule’s been like, ranking near the bottom of the NHL in goals scored and goals allowed — not a good combination. Edmonton entered with the Western Conference’s worst record at 14-25-8, 33 points behind Vancouver in the Northwest Division.
The Oilers appeared to be headed for more trouble early against the Coyotes.
Yandle, added to the all-star game as an injury replacement earlier in the day, had an assist on the opening goal on a pass that deflected off Edmonton defenceman Tom Gilbert right to Upshall, who beat Devan Dubnyk gloveside for the power-play goal.
Yandle keyed the second goal, too, catching the Oilers off guard with a pass from his own blue line to a streaking Ray Whitney at Edmonton’s line for a 3-on-1. Whitney sent a cross to Turris, who one-timed it over Dubnyk’s glove shoulder for a 2-0 lead.
But Edmonton refused to roll over.
Jacques scored on a double redirect in the second period, then Hall opened the third with his power-play goal on a shot that caromed off Coyotes defenceman Sami Lepisto’s skate. Omark gave the Oilers their first lead 72 seconds later, taking a nifty pass from Sam Gagner through traffic from behind the net.
Upshall tied it on a one-timer from Shane Doan, but Penner helped the Oilers get a much-needed win with a mis-hit shot that trickled past teammate Shawn Harcoff, who had blocked Phoenix goalie Ilya Bryzgalov’s vision.
NOTES: Phoenix D Ed Jovanovski returned after missing five games with a lower-body injury. ... The Coyotes had killed 12 straight penalties before Hall scored in the third period. ... Phoenix had been 19-0-2 when leading after the second period.