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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, April 26, 2010

Coyotes force Game 7


Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Phoenix Coyotes goalie Ilya Bryzgalov made 31 saves in a first-round playoff win against the Detroit Red Wings.

CARLOS OSORIO | Associated Press

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DETROIT — The Phoe-nix Coyotes were at their best when they were up or down a skater, or two, and that gave them a chance to survive for at least one more game.

Phoenix scored its first three goals on special teams and Ilya Bryzgalov made 31 saves in a 5-2 win over Detroit yesterday that forced Game 7 in the first-round series.

"They won the special teams battle," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "That sucked the life out of our team."

Phoenix will host the final game against Detroit tomorrow night.

"Any time you can play in a Game 7, it's a game you'll remember," Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said.

Lauri Korpikoski scored a short-handed goal 4:10 in to spark the win and keep the Coyotes alive.

Mathieu Schneider snapped the Coyotes' 0 for 19 skid on the power play with a goal early in the second for a 2-0 lead, and Radim Vrbata scored with the man advantage midway through the period to restore the two-goal edge.

Wojtek Wolski's even-strength goal put Phoenix ahead 4-1 late in the second.

Jimmy Howard made 24 saves for the Red Wings.

CANUCKS 4, KINGS 2

LOS ANGELES — Daniel Sedin scored with 2:03 to play, and Vancouver rallied from another third-period deficit to finish off its first-round series against Los Angeles with a victory in Game 6.

Roberto Luongo made 30 saves while keeping Vancouver close in its third straight victory over Los Angeles, and Kevin Bieksa tied it early in the third period for the third-seeded Canucks.

Sedin then skated in to collect a loose puck and snapped a shot over goalie Jonathan Quick, sending Vancouver to the second round of the Western Conference playoffs for the third time in four seasons.

"The (puck) came to me, and it wasn't a very hard shot, but it found a way to go in," Sedin said. "It's one of those things."

Drew Doughty and Alexander Frolov scored and Quick stopped 18 shots for the sixth-seeded Kings.