Game Trax: Stats and more
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Dan Ellis got his first shutout of the season and his first with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Ellis stopped 23 shots and recorded his 11th career shutout as the Lightning beat the Phoenix Coyotes 3-0 on Saturday night.
Ellis,
who signed as a free agent after three seasons with Nashville, was
helped by a defense that limited the Coyotes to few scoring chances.
"We
frustrated their zone entry and that was the key to the win," Ellis
said. "Our defense pushed play to the outside and I was able to see
shots. We have a great system, executed it to a T, and that equaled
success."
Ellis' last shutout was on Jan. 15, when he blanked the Flames in Calgary for Nashville.
The
Lightning's first goal was from newly acquired Mattias Ritola. It took
nearly two periods, but the Lightning scored when Ritola, picked up
from Detroit on Oct. 6, scored his first NHL goal on a wraparound to
the right side of the Phoenix net.
The goal with 4:01 left in
the second period came just minutes after Ilya Bryzgalov stopped Steven
Stamkos, the NHL's leading scorer, to the right of the Coyotes' net.
Nate
Thompson's pass off the right wing board was deflected off Phoenix
defenseman David Schlemko's skate and in behind Bryzgalov. Adam Hall
was credited with his second goal of the season at 4:26 of the third
period.
"Phoenix is really a good skating team with speed," Hall
said. "We were able to cut their chances. Anytime you can get two
points on the road, that's a great accomplishment."
Stamkos scored his ninth goal of the season on a backhander with 5:22 left to play.
If
the Lightning entered the game as one of the highest scoring teams in
the league, their defense was equal. Phoenix was limited to 13 shots
through the second period, and the Coyotes had few good scoring chances
against Ellis, making his sixth start of the season.
Through a
scoreless first period, the Lightning had the better opportunities and
they came in a quick secession of shots, both off the stick of Steve
Downie less than 5 minutes into the game.
Crashing the net down
the right wing, Downie's shot, headed high and under the cross bar, was
stopped when Bryzgalov slid across the crease for the save. Seconds
later, Downie cranked a slap shot off the left post.
The loss drops the Coyotes to 3-4-3, but there are no signs of panic.
"Obviously,
we're not 10-0, so we have a great deal of work to do," defenseman
Keith Yandle said. "The good thing being 10 games in is we have 72
games left where we can get better."
NOTES: The
crowd was announced at 8,171, the third straight below 8,200. Lightning
began a four-game West Coast trip and a stretch of nine of their 11
games on the road. Martin St. Louis appeared in his 400th consecutive
game for Tampa Bay. Pavel Kubina is one goal short of tying Tampa Bay's
franchise record for most goals by a defenseman. ... Coyotes F Martin
Hanzal missed his sixth straight game (lower back).
Updated October 30, 2010
