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National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Phoenix 4, Anaheim 0
When: 9:00 PM ET, Saturday, March 31, 2012
Where: Jobing.com Arena, Glendale, Arizona
Referees: Gord Dwyer, Dennis LaRue
Linesmen: Derek Nansen, Jay Sharrers
Attendance: 15856


COYOTES 4, DUCKS 0: After securing his 1,000th career point, Ray Whitney scored a goal and Mike Smith recorded his second straight shutout as host Phoenix moved into a tie for first place in the Pacific Division with Los Angeles.

Whitney became the 79th player in NHL history to reach the milestone when he sent a cross-ice pass to Radim Vrbata, who beat Jeff Deslauriers with a wrist shot high to the glove side on a 5-on-3 power play. Vrbata's 33rd goal came at 16:14 of the second period.

Forty seconds later, Whitney scored with the man advantage for his 24th goal, sending the Jobing.com Arena crowd into a frenzy.

Smith made 21 of his 44 saves in the first period and preserved his seventh shutout and 18th career when he robbed Bobby Ryan from point-blank range during a power play early in the third period.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Antoine Vermette also had goals as Phoenix won two straight games for the first time since February.

Larsson stepped out of the box after serving a hooking penalty and took a feed from Mikkel Boedker at center ice. He then went in alone on Deslauriers and slid a backhander between his pads at 6:10.

Vermette made it 2-0 when he deflected Derek Morris’ shot from the point with the shaft of his stick at 11:03 of the second.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Whitney, who turns 40 next month, has played 1,226 games with San Jose, Edmonton, Florida, Columbus, Detroit, Carolina and Phoenix. … Vrabata’s 33 goals are the most in franchise history since Nelson Emerson’s 32 for Winnipeg in 1993-94. ... Deslauriers made 25 saves in his third start as the Ducks rested Jonas Hiller, who has started 70 of 78 games. … Ekman-Larsson is fifth among NHL defenseman with 13 goals.

Top Game Performances
 
Anaheim   Phoenix
N/A Points Radim Vrbata 2
N/A Goals Radim Vrbata 1
N/A Assists Radim Vrbata 1
N/A Power Play Goals Radim Vrbata 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Jeff Deslauriers .862 Save Percentage Mike Smith 1.000
Jeff Deslauriers 25 Saves Mike Smith 44
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Anaheim 44 0 0-6 1-4 25 32
Phoenix 29 4 3-4 6-6 19 29
Upcoming Games
  • Phoenix will play their next game at home against Columbus. The Coyotes have a W/L % of .436 after a win and .550 after a loss.
  • Anaheim will play their next game at home against Edmonton. The Ducks have a W/L % of .424 after a win and .422 after a loss.