Skip to content

Yakupov scores another clutch goal as Oilers down Coyotes

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Nail Yakupov scored a power-play goal at 3:52 of overtime and the Edmonton Oilers fought back after giving up a goal late in regulation to beat the Phoenix Coyotes 2-1 Wednesday night.
Nail Yakupov, Taylor Hall, Ryan Whitney
Edmonton Oilers' Nail Yakupov (64)

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Nail Yakupov scored a power-play goal at 3:52 of overtime and the Edmonton Oilers fought back after giving up a goal late in regulation to beat the Phoenix Coyotes 2-1 Wednesday night.

The Oilers appeared to be on their way to helping Devan Dubnyk to his fifth career shutout, but put their goalie in a bind when Sam Gagner was called for a penalty and the Coyotes pulled goalie Chad Johnson.

Nick Johnson took advantage, whipping a shot past Dubnyk’s glove side with 19 seconds left in regulation after teammate Radim Vrbata failed on a backhander.

Yakupov ended it in overtime, punching in a rebound after a shot by Ales Hemsky caromed off teammate Taylor Hall.

Dubnyk stopped 27 shots and Lennart Petrell scored his first goal since Feb. 27, helping the Oilers end a five-game losing streak to Phoenix.

Chad Johnson had 19 saves after notching his first NHL shutout two days earlier.

Coming off their best game of the season, the Coyotes found themselves in a familiar position: Wondering what will happen after the latest chapter in their ownership saga.

Since a new lease agreement with the City of Glendale was reworked in November, it appeared former San Jose Sharks CEO Greg Jamison would have no trouble buying the team from the NHL before a Jan. 31 deadline. Jamison told the Arizona Republic this week that he expected to have the deal done in time.

But on Wednesday, a league official told The Associated Press it was unlikely Jamison would have the money or investors he needs to purchase the team before the midnight Thursday deadline, leaving the team in limbo yet again.

Of course, the Coyotes have played well against the backdrop of uncertainty in the past, reaching the playoffs each of the past three seasons — making the Western Conference finals for the first time last year — while potential owners come and go.

Phoenix got back to its defence-first style in a 4-0 win over Nashville on Monday night, and limited Edmonton’s chances in front of Johnson.

Johnson did give up a big rebound on a shot by Ryan Smyth in the first period and Petrell jumped on it, punching in the puck from just outside the crease. Johnson was steady after that, turning away the limited chances the Oilers had against him.

Dubnyk was sharp his last outing, turning away 38 shots — 24 in the third period — in a 4-1 win over Colorado on Monday. He was just as good against the Coyotes, finding pucks easily through traffic and making a couple of snatching glove saves on hard shots by Phoenix.

Dubnyk appeared to be headed toward his first shutout in nearly a year, but Johnson scored his second goal of the season to send the game to overtime.

NOTES: Gagner had an assist on Petrell’s goal, extending his points streak to six games. ... Oilers LW Ben Eager missed his fifth straight game with a concussion. ... Coyotes G Mike Smith is expected to come off injured reserved from a lower-body injury and could possibly start on Friday.