‘Yotes Notes: Coyotes score five unanswered to top Red Wings

Oct 20, 2013, 3:59 AM | Updated: 6:20 pm

The Coyotes were in an unenviable position, facing an early two-goal deficit while playing their second game in as many days.

But Phoenix scored five unanswered goals — four of which came in the third period — to storm back and beat the Detroit Red Wings 5-2 Saturday at Jobing.com Arena.

Phoenix (5-2-2) got two goals from center Mike Ribeiro, and Martin Hanzal scored a breakaway goal to take the lead just two minutes after Ribeiro tied it early in the third.

Ribeiro added his second at the 13:14 mark of the third to extend Phoenix’s lead to two goals, and goalie Mike Smith found an empty net as time expired for the Coyotes’ fifth goal.

THE GOOD

Phoenix didn’t cave to early pressure, and remained the aggressor after pulling ahead midway through the third. The Coyotes had given up late leads in their past two games, and Saturday’s game was a big step toward correcting that before it became an issue.

Smith made 31 saves in addition to scoring his first NHL goal.

The Coyotes’ penalty kill was successful on each of its two chances, and the Coyotes had just two giveaways while winning the faceoff battle and out-hitting Detroit 33-21.

THE BAD

The Coyotes continued to turn the puck over at inopportune times, and it gave the Red Wings a breakaway look for their second goal.

Phoenix has also made a habit of falling behind early in games, though scoring five unanswered goals is a good way to put a slow start out of fans’ minds.

NOTED

Smith became the 11th goaltender in NHL history to be credited with a goal after his 180-foot wrist shot found Detroit’s empty net with 0.2 seconds remaining in the third period.

WHAT’S NEXT

The Coyotes will play their second straight home game on Tuesday at 7 p.m. against the Calgary Flames.

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Arizona Coyotes' Mike Smith (41) makes a save on a shot by Detroit Red Wings' Stephen Weiss (90) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Detroit Red Wings' Darren Helm (43) tries to keep the puck away from Arizona Coyotes' Connor Murphy (5) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Detroit Red Wings' Luke Glendening, left, battles Arizona Coyotes' Keith Yandle (3) for the puck in front of Coyotes goalie Mike Smith (41) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Coyotes' Mike Smith, right, gives up a goal to Detroit Red Wings' Riley Sheahan as Coyotes' Oliver Ekman-Larsson (23), of Sweden, looks on during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Detroit Red Wings' Petr Mrazek (34), of the Czech Republic, prepares to make a save on a shot by Arizona Coyotes' Lauri Korpikoski (28), of Finland, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Detroit Red Wings' Petr Mrazek (34), of the Czech Republic, makes a save on a shot by Arizona Coyotes' Lauri Korpikoski (28), of Finland, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Coyotes' Lucas Lessio (38) battles for the puck with Detroit Red Wings' Gustav Nyquist (14), of Sweden, during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Detroit Red Wings' Riley Sheahan, right, celebrates his goal against the Arizona Coyotes with teammate Tomas Tatar, left, of the Czech Republic, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Detroit Red Wings' Tomas Tatar (21), of the Czech Republic, scores against Arizona Coyotes' Mike Smith, right, during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. The Red Wings defeated the Coyotes 3-1. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Detroit Red Wings' Tomas Tatar, of the Czech Republic, celebrates his goal against the Arizona Coyotes during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. The Red Wings defeated the Coyotes 3-1. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Detroit Red Wings' Darren Helm (43) sends the puck into an empty net for a goal against the Arizona Coyotes during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. The Red Wings defeated the Coyotes 3-1. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Detroit Red Wings' Tomas Tatar (21), of the Czech Republic, celebrates his goal against the Arizona Coyotes with Pavel Datsyuk (13), of Russia, during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. The Red Wings defeated the Coyotes 3-1. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Detroit Red Wings' Darren Helm (43) celebrates his goal against the Arizona Coyotes with Tomas Tatar (21), of the Czech Republic, during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. The Red Wings defeated the Coyotes 3-1. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Detroit Red Wings' Tomas Tatar (21), of the Czech Republic, scores a goal against Arizona Coyotes' Mike Smith (41) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. The Red Wings defeated the Coyotes 3-1. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Detroit Red Wings' Petr Mrazek (34), of the Czech Republic, makes a save on a shot by Arizona Coyotes' Martin Erat (10), of the Czech Republic, who was tripped up and earned a penalty shot during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. Erat missed the penalty shot and the Red Wings defeated the Coyotes 3-1. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Detroit Red Wings' Petr Mrazek, left, of the Czech Republic, makes a save on a penalty shot by Arizona Coyotes' Martin Erat (10), of the Czech Republic, during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. The Red Wings defeated the Coyotes 3-1. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Detroit Red Wings' Darren Helm (43) eyes the puck after scoring an empty net goal against the Arizona Coyotes during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. The Red Wings defeated the Coyotes 3-1. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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