By MATT BECKER
STATS Senior Writer
The Phoenix Coyotes are struggling a bit heading into the All-Star break.
Traveling to Colorado might be just what they need to get things turned around.
The Coyotes seek a fifth straight road victory Wednesday night and also try to win four consecutive games over the Avalanche franchise for the first time in two decades in the final game for both teams before the break.
After going 6-0-2 to open January, Phoenix (24-17-9) is 1-4-0 in its last five. The Coyotes, who are in sixth place in the Western Conference with 57 points, appeared to be in good position to get a win Tuesday, leading lowly Edmonton 2-1 after two periods but ended up losing 4-3 on Dustin Penner's goal with 21 seconds to play.
"It's a tough one to swallow, especially after leading 2-1," said Phoenix defenseman Keith Yandle, who was added to the All-Star game roster Tuesday. "The good thing is we play tomorrow and we just got to get back at it."
Taking to the road might also benefit the Coyotes.
While Phoenix has lost its last four home games, it has won its last four away from Glendale. This streak started with a 2-0 win in Colorado on Jan. 6, as Taylor Pyatt scored both goals and Jason LaBarbera made 34 saves.
LaBarbera has stopped 56 of 57 shots in winning his last two starts against the Avalanche, while Ilya Bryzgalov, who made 31 saves Tuesday, has turned aside 50 of 53 shots in winning his last two starts in this series.
The Coyotes have outscored Colorado 11-3 in winning the last three meetings, and haven't won four straight in this series since 1990-91, when they played in Winnipeg and the Avalanche were in Quebec.
Colorado (25-18-6), one point back of Phoenix with 56 points, is coming off Monday's 4-3 win over St. Louis, its fourth victory in nine games.
Kevin Shattenkirk broke a third-period tie on a power play, while Brandon Yip stepped up with an encouraging performance.
Yip, a healthy scratch in three of the previous four games, had two goals Monday. The second-year right wing snapped a 13-game goal drought, finding the back of the net for the first time since Dec. 13.
"I thought Yip had a strong game tonight," coach Joe Sacco said. "When he plays with that intensity, he's an effective player. You get rewarded when you work hard, when you do things right."
Sacco would now probably like to see Matt Duchene break out of his mini-scoring slump.
Duchene, Colorado's lone All-Star with team highs of 19 goals and 44 points, has one goal in his last six games.
The 20-year-old Duchene, who grew up idolizing Peter Forsberg, was on the same line as the former NHL MVP in practice Tuesday.
Forsberg, who is contemplating a return to the NHL, has participated in two practices with the team he helped lead to two Stanley Cups. The 37-year-old's biggest obstacles remain a bothersome right foot that's hampered him over the latter part of his career and getting back into playing shape.
