Win streak continues in Doan’s Return

A number of different players contributing was one of the main keys to success for the Coyotes last season and that came true again on Sunday night in Phoenix’s 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks.  The victory extends the Coyotes win streak to six games and their unbeaten streak to eight.

In a game which saw the return of their captain Shane Doan from injury, Coyotes winger Taylor Pyatt scored two goals, including one that hit off his body on a Keith Yandle shot.  The goal came up 5:52 of the third period and put his team up for good.  Scottie Upshall also lit up the lamp for his fifth goal of the young season, but it was the play of Ilya Bryzgalov that once again lead the Desert Dogs to victory.

Bryz stopped 25 of 27 shots and came up with a couple of huge saves down the stretch in the third period.  Ever since he was taken out of that Dallas game, the Russian goaltender has been a different goalie between the pipes.  He has now won five straight games and has allowed only 13 goals in that stretch.  Everyone knows that this team’s success relies solely on Bryzgalov’s play and it looks as though he is starting to return to last year’s form.

The three major keys going into this game for Phoenix was staying out of the penalty box, keeping the difference in shots on goal close and maintaining the two Sedin twins.  Phoenix passed all three with flying colors.  Phoenix didn’t have a single penalty on the night, they outshot Vancouver by one and neither of the Sedin twins scored a single point.  For both of those guys to go scoreless in back-to-back games is a rare feat in itself.

With a day off on Monday, the Yotes are right back on the ice on Tuesday in Phoenix to face a  familiar Edmonton Oilers squad.  The puck will drop at 7 p.m.  Phoenix better be prepared for another fight with a young and feisty team.

Player of the game: It was a tie behind Pyatt and Bryzgalov.  Pyatt’s two goals were huge, but so were some of Bryz’s saves down the stretch to maintain the lead for the Yotes.