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PHOENIX (AP) -- The Phoenix Coyotes wanted to get stronger on offense, so they played better defense.
|  | | Fortunately for out-of-position Pittsburgh goalie Jean-Sebastien Aubin, the puck was behind the goal with Phoenix's Jeremy Roenick wide open in front. |
It worked Wednesday night in a 3-1 victory over the Pittsburgh
Penguins, a team that embarrassed them by holding the Coyotes to a
Pittsburgh-record 11 shots the first time they met this season.
Shane Doan, Trevor Letowski and Keith Tkachuk scored after the
midpoint of the game, and Sean Burke stopped 21 shots and weathered
eight Pittsburgh power plays to improve to 3-1-1 with the Coyotes.
Burke was acquired in a trade with Florida in November.
"We got back to the things that made us successful," coach Bob
Francis said. "Our special teams were outstanding. It's no small
accomplishment to shut out Pittsburgh's power play."
Jaromir Jagr, who broke up Burke's shutout bid with his 33rd
goal 8:10 into the third period, agreed that was a key aspect of
the game.
"When you have that many power plays and don't score any goals,
you sure don't expect to win, and we didn't," Jagr said.
The goal was the 19th point in the last 10 games for Jagr, who
had two goals in a 4-2 win over the Coyotes on Dec. 11 at Pittsburgh.
"They're the most talented team in the league skillwise, but
we felt if we go out there and just hit them and bang them and get
in their faces, we're going to eliminate them," said Tkachuk, who
scored on a penalty shot.
The Coyotes recovered from a seven-game stretch in which they
were outshot by opponents by an average of 14 shots a game,
bettering the Penguins 27-22.
"They took it to us in Pittsburgh, so we probably had a little
more jump today than we had on the road," defenseman Jyrki Lumme
said. "They're a good team and they've been playing well, so we
didn't want to give up any chances. At the same time we didn't take
enough shots on the road, so that was one of the priorities."
Letowski scored on a slap shot that went off the skate of
Penguins defenseman Hans Jonsson as he jostled with Rick Tocchet at
the top of the crease 3:04 into the third. Tocchet, originally
credited with the goal, got an assist -- the 480th of his career, leaving him one point shy of 900.
Tkachuk made it 3-0 just 2:16 later after Darius Kasparaitis
dragged him down at Jean-Sebastien Aubin's doorstep. Tkachuk,
stopped by current Phoenix goalie Bob Essensa on his first career
penalty shot Jan. 24, 1998, against Edmonton, took a forehand approach to the net, then fired a sharp wrist shot between Aubin's legs.
On Monday, New York's Brad Isbister scored on a penalty shot
against Phoenix during a 2-2 tie.
Aubin stopped 12 shots in the first period, one more than the
Coyotes took their first game against the Penguins. Aubin made 24
saves in all.
But even though Pittsburgh had five power plays in the second
period to two for the Coyotes, the pace caught up with the
22-year-old goalie.
Doan sent Phoenix into a 1-0 lead with 8:35 left in the second.
He got the puck from Mika Alatalo, who fielded the rebound of a
slap shot by Juha Ylonen, and skated to his left for a 10-foot
forehand that beat Aubin on the near side.
"We talked about getting some forechecking on the road in the
early part, and we kick away 25 or 30 turnovers," Pittsburgh
assistant coach Ed Johnston said. "They were sitting up at the
blue line waiting for us to come in, and we couldn't get the puck in deep."
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Pittsburgh Clubhouse
Phoenix Clubhouse
Head to head: Jagr vs. The Coyotes
In the Corners: Barrasso still out
RECAPS
Washington 5
Atlanta 2
Florida 4
NY Islanders 3
Chicago 3
Vancouver 2
Calgary 2
Dallas 1
Phoenix 3
Pittsburgh 1
Ottawa 2
Anaheim 0
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Shane Doan scores the first goal for Phoenix.
avi: 791 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Keith Tkachuk scores on the penalty shot.
avi: 839 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Jaromir Jagr scores on the assist from Martin Straka.
avi: 931 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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