By the Numbers: Coyotes survive late rally for second straight win
After dropping six of their last eight, the Phoenix Coyotes found themselves smack in the middle of a midseason slump.
But they look to have righted the ship — at least for now.
Phoenix jumped out to an early two-goal lead and survived a late rally behind another stellar outing from goaltender Mike Smith, and topped the New Jersey Devils 3-2 at Jobing.com Arena Saturday for their second straight win.
Here’s a look back at the hard-earned win by the numbers:
2:
Phoenix secured wins in back-to-back games for the first time since beating the Colorado Avalanche and New York Islanders on Dec. 10 and 12, respectively.
2:26:
It took the Coyotes just two minutes and 36 seconds to jump out to a 1-0 lead over the Devils, as Jordan Szwarz buried a behind-the-net feed from Kyle Chipchura. Phoenix added a second goal with 6:47 left in the period to take a 2-0 lead.
7:
Martin Hanzal’s power play goal at 14:22 of the second period extended the Coyotes’ streak of games with at least one power play goal to seven. Phoenix is now halfway to its franchise record of 14.
26:
The Coyotes blocked 26 shots from the Devils, a team-high six of which came from defenseman Derek Morris.
32:
Mike Smith made 32 saves, and appears to have rebounded from a rough patch around the time it was announced he made the Canadian team for the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Smith made three saves in the game’s final two minutes, including a game-saver off the stick of Jaromir Jagr.
185:
Szwarz’s goal marked the Coyote’s first even-strength goal in almost 185 minutes. Phoenix hadn’t found the net during even strengh play since Mike Ribeiro scored against Anaheim last Saturday — a span of 184:25.
450:
Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett earned his 450th career NHL win, all coming in four-plus years with the Coyotes and seven seasons with the Dallas Stars.
