Oilers Score Too Quickly for Coyotes

Ethan Moreau scored twice to cap a franchise-record five goals in a span of 5:38, and the Edmonton Oilers routed the reeling Phoenix Coyotes, 7-2, Friday night at Glendale, Ariz.

Ryan Smyth, Shawn Horcoff, Adam Oates and Fernando Pisani each had a goal and an assist for the Oilers, who moved within seven points of the Kings for the Western Conference’s final playoff spot.

The Coyotes, winless in two games under interim Coach Rick Bowness, are 2-10-2-2 in their last 14 games and a Western Conference-worst 10-14-5-3 at home.

Moreau finished the run by beating Jean-Marc Pelletier twice within a span of 1:32 as the Oilers took a 6-1 lead.

The Oilers’ previous mark was set Oct. 24, 1996, when they scored five goals over a span of 6:44 in an 8-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues.

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Dallas 3, Minnesota 1 -- Stu Barnes’ short-handed goal with 8:37 left broke a tie and helped the Stars extend their home unbeaten streak to 10 games.

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Columbus 4, Chicago 3 -- Luke Richardson’s first goal in more than two years came with 2:51 left at Chicago and the Blue Jackets ended a five-game losing streak.

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New York Islanders 4, Buffalo 2 -- Rick DiPietro stopped 42 shots at Buffalo and the Islanders moved eight points ahead of the Sabres in the race for the Eastern Conference’s final playoff berth.

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Washington 4, Florida 1 -- Hours after trading away Robert Lang, their top scorer, the Capitals scored four times in the third period to beat the Panthers at Sunrise, Fla.

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Atlanta 3, New Jersey 2 -- Dany Heatley scored on a power play with 5:48 to play to give the Thrashers the win at East Rutherford, N.J.

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San Jose 4, Pittsburgh 2 -- At San Jose, the Penguins lost for the 18th time in 20 games and became the first team to be officially eliminated from playoff contention.