CHL Colorado Eagles

Coyotes Nip Lightning in Shootout at BEC

Published on September 24, 2009 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


LOVELAND, Colo. - The Phoenix Coyotes edged the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight, 4-3 in a shootout, at the Budweiser Events Center. The Colorado Eagles helped introduce their new National Hockey League affiliate -- the Lightning acted as the home team -- to Northern Colorado in the second ever NHL game played at the facility.

The "home" team struck first when Ryan Malone tipped home Victor Hedman's (this year's second overall pick in the NHL Entry Draft) point shot from in front at 4:16 of the first. The two teams then traded unsuccessful power plays the rest of the frame.

Phoenix doubled up Tampa Bay on both shots and goals in the second period, as the two teams combined for three power-play tallies in the second frame to leave the game knotted at 2 after two. Radim Vrbata tied the game at 1 with a 5-on-3 goal at 4:10 when his shot from the left side of the crease banked in off of the inside of Antero Niittymaki's left leg.

Peter Mueller gave the Coyotes a 2-1 lead with another score in the second portion of the power play when his shot from the right point found its way into the cage through a maze of body parts. But Steven Stamkos answered with a power-play score for the Lightning at 10:17 when he snapped a shot past Jason LaBarbera from the left circle.

Tampa Bay spent a considerable amount of time in the penalty box in the third, being called for all four of the period's penalties. But in between, the teams traded goals just 34 seconds apart when Vincent Lecavalier scored on a 2-on-1 break before Scottie Upshall tapped home a Vernon Fiddler rebound from the left side of the crease to re-tie the game and force overtime.

The overtime period went scoreless before Mueller -- as the third and final shooter in the first round of the shootout -- notched the game-winner for his second goal of the night.

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Central Hockey League Stories from September 24, 2009


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