Coyotes edge Flyers in controversial third period

November 22, 12:41 AMPhoenix Coyotes ExaminerAnthony Perez

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Flyers argue the call (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

The Phoenix Coyotes escaped Saturday night’s game with a victory.

Defenseman Keith Yandle broke a 1-1 tie with a controversial goal with 9:41 left in the third period to help push the Coyotes past the Philadelphia Flyers, 3-1, Saturday night at Jobing.com Arena.

The game remained scoreless until the 4:49 mark of the second period when Matthew Lombardi put Phoenix on the board first with his fourth goal of the year, with assists from Shane Doan and Robert Lang.

At the 7:14 mark of the second, the Flyers responded when Scott Hartnell netted his seventh goal of the year to tie the game up.

In the third period things got dramatic. What appeared to be a blown offsides call led to Yandle breaking the tie on the power play, with assists from Lombardi and Adrian Aucoin, to put Phoenix up 2-1.

“I thought it was an offsides,” said Flyers Head Coach John Stevens. “One linesman had his arm straight up in the air, looking to call it, but the other guy waved it off, so it’s unfortunate.”

The Coyotes put the game away with 40 seconds left in the game when Shane Doan drew a penalty. The referees awarded Doan with his sixth goal of the year because he was shooting at an empty net when he drew the penalty.

NOTES: Keith Yandle led all Phoenix skaters with 26:28 of ice time… The Coyotes reassigned Kevin Porter back to their AHL affiliate in San Antonio on Friday.

Quote of the game

“I just found a lane and Lombo [Coyotes forward Matthew Lombardi], I mean he’s a great passer and he found me and I kind of just shot it.”- Coyotes Defenseman Keith Yandle on his game-winning goal

Anthony’s three stars

1. Ilya Bryzgalov (stopped 23 of 24 shots)
2. Keith Yandle (game-winning goal)
3. Matthew Lombardi (goal, assist, three shots)

Final thoughts

When looking at the replay, it appears the Coyotes did get away with an offsides right before Yandle scored the game-winning goal. Nevertheless, every team is on the wrong end of an officials bad call at some point in the season, and every team is on the right end at some point in the season- tonight the Coyotes were on the right end.