Smith, Coyotes subdue Panthers
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Sunrise, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Mike Smith stopped 31 pucks as Phoenix claimed a 3-1 victory over Florida in an inter-conference clash.
"As of late we've tightened up more defensively and there's been a lot more shots coming from outside. As a goalie that's all you can ask for," said Smith.
Mike Ribeiro, Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Radim Vrbata lit the lamp for the Coyotes, who have taken four of their last five.
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Brandon Pirri scored and Roberto Luongo added 23 saves for the Panthers, losers in seven of nine.
"I just got to find a way to make an extra save somewhere," said Luongo.
Keith Yandle's rip from the boards near the right point on a power play eluded Luongo thanks to a Ribeiro tip and gave Phoenix the lead with 2:17 remaining in the first period.
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Ekman-Larsson connected at 9:43 of the second on a wrister from the blue line on the left wing, then Vrbata tripled the visitors' advantage just shy of the six-minute mark of the third period by tapping in an Antoine Vermette dish to cap a 2-on-1.
Pirri's first goal as a Panther, a fluttering power-play strike, put the hosts on the board at 8:54, but that was all Smith allowed.
He stopped the remaining 10 Florida shots in the final 20 minutes, as the Coyotes completed their Lightning/Panthers road sweep.
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Game Notes
Phoenix has won three in a row and eight of 12 games all-time at Florida ... The Coyotes finish off their four-game road trip in Boston on Thursday ... Pirri picked up six goals in 28 games for the Blackhawks this season.