Coyotes spoil Luongo’s return to the Canucks

Published 10:11 pm Thursday, January 15, 2009

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Joakim Lindstrom scored the first two goals and the Phoenix Coyotes spoiled star goalie Roberto Luongo’s return to the Vancouver Canucks with a 4-1 victory Thursday night.

Keith Yandle and Peter Mueller also scored, and Ilya Bryzgalov made 31 saves to help the Coyotes win for the third time in four games, but just the second time in a month on the road. With the victory, Phoenix moved into a tie with Vancouver and Anaheim for fifth place in the Western Conference.

Luongo, back in goal after missing eight weeks because of a groin injury, made 27 saves. Vancouver is 2-5-2 in its last nine, and has lost six straight at home (0-5-1) to match a franchise record set during the inaugural 1970-71 season.

Daniel Sedin ended Bryzgalov’s shutout bid with 8:58 left on a shot that bounced in off a Coyotes defenseman’s leg.

Luongo, who missed 24 games, was beaten on the first shot he saw, sliding across awkwardly as Lindstrom’s unchecked shot from inside the right circle found it’s way through the goalie’s legs. Lindstrom was left alone again for his second goal.

With the Coyotes on a power play, Stephen Reinprecht won an offensive zone draw back to Yandle and his point shot hit Lindstrom, who was unchecked on top of the crease to Luongo’s left. The loose puck bounced back into the middle, and with Luongo’s momentum carrying him to the left, Lindstrom easily tapped it in.

It was the first two-goal game of Lindstrom’s career, and only a good blocker save kept it from turning it into a hat trick before the period ended. Acquired from Anaheim for minor leaguer Logan Stephenson on Dec. 3, Lindstrom has three goals in his last two games and seven in 17 contests with the Coyotes overall.

Luongo got breaks when Enver Lisin and Shane Doan hit posts in the first 21:30 of action. But Yandle made it 3-0 2:22 into the second period with a screened shot off the right boards, and Mueller was left unchecked to drive the net and beat Luongo through the legs after another blown power play faceoff assignment.

Notes: Coyotes C Kyle Turris, the third overall pick in the 2007

draft, played his first NHL game in his hometown after being a surprise healthy scratch when Phoenix visited in early November. … Canucks G Curtis Sanford cleared waivers and was sent to Manitoba in the AHL after losing his backup job to Jason LaBarbera, who was acquired from Los Angeles on Dec. 30. … Vancouver C Kyle Wellwood, who is second on the team with 14 goals, was a healthy scratch.