In Glendale, the Arizona Coyotes won their fourth straight game, 4-3 over the Florida Panthers.
Derek Stepan had two strikes for the Coyotes.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored for the Coyotes in win over Panthers – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
Stepan’s second goal of the game tied it at 3-3 to force extra time and then the skills competition.
“It was back and forth all night and you could see on the bench we picked it up,” Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet said. “It’s been that way all year. When we’re down, we’re embracing those moments.”
The Yotes improved to 30-28-5.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson also scored for Arizona.
“We haven’t been to the playoffs for a long time (2012),” Ekman-Larsson said. “We just keep finding ways and keep battling, and everybody believes we can do it. It’s a great feeling in the room right now.”
Darcy Kuemper made 24 saves for the win.
Arizona is just two points back of a wild card spot.
The Panthers got goals from Aleksander Barkov, Jamie McGinn and Mike Hoffman.
“We were scrambling, trying to finish off the rest of that kill, and [Barkov] made a great play and we were able to go on a 2-on-1,” Troy Brouwer said. “We were in good position defensively, giving ourselves a chance to make a break.”
Arizona was 3-for-3 in the skills competition.
“We’ve shown all year we don’t quit and we showed that again,” said Coyotes forward Christian Dvorak, who was making his season debut after missing the first 62 games because of an upper-body injury. “It was kind of a rollercoaster of a game, especially in the third and overtime, but we persevered.”
[WATCH:Â All Panthers vs. Coyotes highlights]
James Reimer got the start but left the game with just 32 seconds gone in the middle frame with an injury.
“It was a gutsy effort coming back again (after a 4-3 overtime win against the Colorado Avalanche on Monday), and when it’s overtime and a shootout it’s anybody’s game,” Panthers head coach Bob Boughner said. “I can’t say enough about the guys battling and competing and finding a way to get a point.”
Roberto Luongo made 27 saves in relief.
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