Wacky Night in Phoenix a Win for Columbus

Blue Jackets get lucky breaks, questionable calls in 2-1 victory
By Katherine Thompson,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 8, 2008 4:30 AM CST
Wacky Night in Phoenix a Win for Columbus
Phoenix Coyotes' associate coach Rick Tocchet, back left, in his first game back after serving a two year suspension, confers with head coach Wayne Gretzky, back center, while associate coach Ulf Samuelsson, top right, looks toward the ice in second period action against the Columbus Blue Jackets in...   (Associated Press)

Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky blames porous goaltending for his team's 2-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, but rotten luck played a part as well, writes the Arizona Republic. With the winning goal getting in because of a Phoenix defenseman's broken stick and Craig Weller getting a match penalty for defending himself, the cards were all falling in Columbus' favor.

Of course, it didn't hurt that Frederik Norrena looked stellar in goal, stopping 26 shots to keep Phoenix from threatening. For Coyotes goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, the night wasn't as good. "We've got to get Bryz where he's solid every single night and every shot," said Gretzky. And despite the flukiness of the second score, there was "no excuse for the first goal," he added. (More NHL stories.)

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