Coyotes silence Ducks and strengthen playoff bid

(Reuters) - Lauri Korpikoski scored twice and netted the go-ahead goal to help the Phoenix Coyotes secure a 5-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday for some breathing room in a tight race for the playoffs.

The Coyotes, who entered the game in a tie for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, are now level in points with the fourth-place Los Angeles Kings and three points back of the third-place San Jose Sharks.
Phoenix goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov made 36 saves in net as the Coyotes split their six-game season series with the Ducks.
"We tried to be solid and stay tight down low and (Bryzgalov) just did a great job," Coyotes defenseman David Schlemko told reporters. "He was unbelievable, and it's not the first
time he's been great for us."
Korpikoski, who had given the Coyotes a 2-1 lead in the first period, broke a 2-2 tie that put the visitors in front for good with a wrister at 16:47 in the second.
Schlemko and Shane Doan followed with the final two goals for Phoenix.
Corey Perry had each of Anaheim's goals and now has 36 for the season, but the Ducks are two points behind the Calgary Flames for the eighth playoff spot with 13 games remaining.
"I didn't think we had a good start to the game. We didn't come out firing like we normally would," said Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle. "We had chances but I don't think we did a good enough job screening Bryzgalov ... We have to look at ourselves and say 'why weren't we more desperate at the beginning?'"