Ladd nets winner in Jets' 2-1 SO win over Coyotes
GLENDALE, Ariz. - Andrew Ladd scored in regulation and in the second round of the shootout, and Ondrej Pavelec stopped Antoine Vermette's attempt to send the Winnipeg Jets to a 2-1 win over the Phoenix Coyotes on Tuesday night.
The Coyotes dropped into a tie for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference with the Dallas Stars, who blanked the Capitals 5-0. Dallas has a game in hand with seven left to play.
Jets wing Blake Wheeler was whistled for a high-sticking penalty with 1:15 left in overtime, but the Coyotes couldn't take advantage and the game went to a shootout.
Pavelec finished with 28 saves and Thomas Greiss had 21 for Phoenix.
Ladd opened the scoring 10:01 into the first period, firing the puck past Greiss from inside the left faceoff circle. Ladd took a pass from Bryan Little and his wrist shot found the back of the net.
Little extended his points streak to seven games.
Winnipeg's 1-0 lead after the opening frame marked the first time the Coyotes had trailed on home ice after the first period since Jan. 20 against Toronto.
The Coyotes evened it up 19 seconds into the second period when Zbynek Michalek scored on a snap shot with Vermette and Mikkel Boedker getting assists.
Both teams had god chances in the third period, but shots by Ladd and the Coyotes' Shane Doan and Michalek were blocked or sailed over the net during the seventh minute of the period.
Boedker's shot with 9:50 left in the third hit the post and bounced away. Kyle Chipchura's shot was saved by Pavelec with 4:30 left in regulation.
Greiss stopped 21 shots for Phoenix,
NOTES: The fans in the crowd of 13,724 wore more Jets blue than Coyotes red, interesting if only for the fact that Phoenix is a playoff contender. The Coyotes heard many "Let's Go Jets!" chants throughout the evening. . The Coyotes were without defenseman David Schlemko (lower body injury), right wing David Moss (ankle) and goalie Mike Smith (knee), who missed his fourth straight game though he is skating in practice. . The Jets were without goalie Al Montoya for a second straight game due to injury, so Pavelec got another start. . The Jets hadn't played at Jobing.com Arena since the Coyotes home opener in October of the 2011-2012 season.