DENVER (AP) -Steven Reinprecht scored three goals and Shane Doan had the game winner with 3:11 remaining, lifting the Phoenix Coyotes to a 5-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night.
It was the Coyotes' second win over Colorado in three days. The Avalanche has now dropped four straight, including three at home.
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| Peter Budaj fights for control of the puck with Phoenix Coyotes left winger Mathias Tjarnqvist during the second period of the Avalanche's 5-2 loss in Denver on Wednesday. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) |
Marek Svatos, who scored both of Colorado's goals, was called for tripping late in the third period of a tie game. Doan then took a pass from Reinprecht and beat Peter Budaj for the game winner.
Doan also had three assists, giving him 23 on the season.
The Avalanche, which came into the game with the fewest penalties in the league, gave up two power-play goals.
The Coyotes added two short-handed, empty-net goals by Radim Vrbata and Reinprecht in the final minute after the Avalanche pulled Budaj and Fredrik Sjostrom was called for high sticking.
Ilya Bryzgalov stopped 24 shots for the Coyotes. He was coming off a game in which he tied a career high with 42 saves in a 4-3 shootout win over Colorado on New Year's Eve.
Svatos' second goal of the night tied the game, 2-2, midway through the second period. He now has 15 goals this season.
Reinprecht scored two goals 62 seconds apart in the first period to stake Phoenix to an early lead.
His empty netter with 36.9 second remaining in the third gave him his first hat trick since April 1, 2006, at San Jose. He now has 11 goals this season, including four in two games against Colorado.
Reinprecht played parts of three seasons with Colorado, helping the Avalanche to the Stanley Cup in 2001.
The Avalanche played without forward Ryan Smyth, who's out indefinitely with a sprained ankle. The team was already missing captain Joe Sakic, who underwent successful hernia surgery last week and is expected to be out eight to 12 weeks.
After watching the New Year's Day outdoor game between Buffalo and Pittsburgh, Ian Laperriere couldn't help but think about a version being held at Invesco Field, the Denver Broncos' home stadium.
"Knowing the fans in this town, they'd respond," he said.
The only drawback is Denver's unpredictable winter weather.
"It could be 75 degrees and melt the ice," Laperriere said. "But that would be something to play here."
Notes: The Avalanche recalled F T.J. Hensick from Lake Erie of the American Hockey League on Tuesday. ... Colorado F Cody McCormick was scratched due to a minor hip ailment.
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