{coyotes} Coyotes defeat Flames in OT for Tippett's 500th win

 

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GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored with 39.9 seconds left in overtime to give the Arizona Coyotes a 2-1 win against the Calgary Flames at Gila River Arena on Friday.

It was the 500th win for Coyotes coach Dave Tippett, tying Toe Blake for 22nd in NHL history. Tippett ranks third behind Joel Quenneville of the Chicago Blackhawks and Mike Babcock of the Toronto Maple Leafs in wins among active coaches.

Goalie Mike Smith made 25 saves, including two in the overtime, before Brad Richardson's pass found Ekman-Larsson for a wrist shot he put past Calgary goalie Karri Ramo for the win.

The Coyotes (12-9-1) have won four of their past five home games.

Ekman-Larsson has five goals to lead Arizona's defensemen, who have scored the third most in the NHL as a group (15).

Ramo made 18 saves in his 12th straight start for the Flames (8-13-2), who are 5-2 in overtime.

The Flames had a 12-8 advantage in shots on goal in the first period and the two best scoring chances. But Smith made a nice pad save on a Jiri Hudler backhand shot with five minutes left and a big glove save on a wide-open Dougie Hamilton on the power play in the final minute.

After a scoreless first period, the Coyotes struck 29 seconds into the second period.

Martin Hanzal set up Tobias Rieder for a sharp-angled shot that struck the far post. The puck shot out toward Hanzal and Hudler, who were battling near the crease, and the puck ricocheted off Hanzal's skate and into the open side of the net.

Hanzal has scored each of his five goals in the past eight games. He has a least one point in 14 of the 20 games he's played.

The Flames weren't producing much at 5-on-5, but the Coyotes took two minor penalties in the first and second periods, and Calgary's struggling power play finally cashed in on its fourth chance.

Hudler's shot from the right circle deflected off the sticks of Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau and Coyotes defenseman Connor Murphy, and then headed right to Giordano just outside the crease. Giordano swept his fifth goal between Smith's pads at 16:40 to end a streak of 16 failed Calgary power plays and even the game.

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