Sunrise, FL (SportsNetwork.com) – Scottie Upshall scored the game-winning goal
coming out of the penalty box with 9:04 remaining in regulation as Florida
edged the Arizona Coyotes, 2-1, on Thursday.
Upshall was sent off on a questionable charging minor 8:51 into the third, and
his teammates killed off the penalty just as he left the box.
Derek MacKenzie blocked a shot from the point, and Tomas Kopecky found Upshall
in stride for a breakaway. Upshall beat Mike Smith with a backhand between the
pads, and the Panthers held on to avenge Saturday’s overtime loss to Arizona.
Brandon Pirri also scored for Florida, which received 32 saves from Roberto
Luongo to post its first regulation win over Arizona since Feb. 10, 2007.
Smith made 24 saves for an Arizona club that is 1-4-1 over its past six games.
Martin Hanzal scored a power-play goal for Arizona with 2:33 remaining in the
opening period. Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who scored the overtime winner against
on Saturday, sent a shot on net that would have went wide were it not for
Hanzal’s stick redirecting it past Luongo.
Florida scored its own power play goal 5:37 into the second when Jussi Jokinen
faked a shot and found Pirri between the circles for a one-timer.
Luongo made 14 saves in the third but needed Nick Bjugstad to swipe away a
puck that nearly trickled across the goal line late in regulation.
Game Notes
The Coyotes had won four straight meetings and three in a row at BB&T Center
… Arizona fell to 0-3-1 on the road … Pirri has scored in three straight
games.
