Coyotes Move on Kings by Exploiting Rookie

Derek Gustafson was shaky at the start, and it showed.

Shane Doan slipped the puck past the rookie goaltender 34 seconds into the game, then added another goal in the third period Wednesday night as the Phoenix Coyotes defeated the Minnesota Wild, 2-0, at St. Paul, Minn.

“I was kind of nervous coming in,” said Gustafson, starting his first game at the Xcel Energy Center. “It caught me off guard. That’s not the kind of start you want.”

The victory moved the Coyotes two points ahead of the Kings for the final spot in the Western Conference playoffs.

Doan’s score was the quickest against the Wild to start a game in their first season.

“It’s huge for us to get the jump early,” Doan said. “They’re such a solid team defensively that if they get up on you, they’re going to make it a long, long night.”

Sean Burke made 29 saves for his fourth shutout of the season in a game where Phoenix was limited to 19 shots on goal.

“Flawless,” Coyote Coach Bob Francis said of Burke’s performance. “Whenever we’ve needed it, he’s always come through for us. We’ve come to expect it.”

Phoenix has 84 points going into today’s game at Nashville. The Kings are at 82 points, while the San Jose Sharks are in seventh place, two points ahead of the Coyotes.

Phoenix has five games left, including home games against the Kings and Sharks, and a game at San Jose.

New Jersey 4, Atlanta 2--Alexander Mogilny scored two goals at Atlanta, including the go-ahead goal with about six minutes remaining, as the Devils extended their road winning streak to eight games.

“When we need him, he’s there,” Devil Coach Larry Robinson said of Mogilny, who has 39 goals. “The other team always has to be aware of him. We’re lucky to have him.”

The defending Stanley Cup champion Devils, leading the Eastern Conference, are 15-1 in their last 16 games and extended the team record for consecutive victories away from home.

Washington 7, Carolina 0--Olaf Kolzig made 18 saves at Washington for his fourth shutout of the season and the Capitals, breaking out of a two-week scoring funk, all but wrapped up their second consecutive Southeast Division title.

Ottawa 5, Chicago 2--Shawn McEachern and Mike Sillinger each had a goal and an assist at Chicago as the Senators extended their unbeaten streak to five games.

Detroit 5, St. Louis 2--Brendan Shanahan’s 30th goal of the season broke a tie with 24.4 seconds to play in the second period and the Red Wings rolled at Detroit.

Montreal 2, Florida 2--Oleg Petrov scored with 12.6 seconds to play in regulation to lift the Canadiens to a tie at Sunrise, Fla.

Boston 3, Toronto 0--Byron Dafoe made 24 saves at Toronto for his second shutout of the season.

New York Rangers 4, New York Islanders 2--Jan Hlavac had a goal and two assists, and Guy Hebert made 33 saves for the Rangers at New York.

Dallas 3, Vancouver 1--Ted Donato had two goals and an assist for the Stars at Vancouver, Canada.

Edmonton 4, Colorado 1--Ryan Smyth scored two goals and Tommy Salo stopped 23 shots for the Oilers at Edmonton, Canada.

Around the League

Goaltender Dominik Hasek of the Buffalo Sabres provided $1 million--the largest single donation by a Buffalo, N.Y., athlete--to establish a charitable foundation called Hasek’s Heroes. The money will be used to create a hockey and skating program for underprivileged Buffalo youth.