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DETROIT (Ticker) -- Goaltender Sean Burke starred again for the Phoenix Coyotes by thwarting the red-hot Detroit Red Wings. Burke made a season-high 40 saves and Ladislav Nagy matched his career high with three points as the Coyotes increased their winning streak to a season-high four games with a 4-1 triumph over the Red Wings. After missing 29 games with a high ankle sprain suffered against Nashville on October 22, Burke is 4-0-0 with a shutout in four starts. He has stopped 125-of-130 shots (.962 save percentage) during the span. "It's great for us," Nagy said of Burke's return. "The first game back, we won, 4-0 (against Philadelphia). Everybody has confidence now. He's won so many games for us." "It was a big win for us," Burke said. "That's a team that has been playing really well and we found a way to come in here and get two points. ... That's not a young team, they're a team of veteran guys. So you've got to force them to come from behind." Nagy registered a goal and two assists, marking his fifth career three-point game. Daymond Langkow and Mike Johnson, Nagy's linemates, each contributed a goal and an assist. Sean Avery spoiled Burke's shutout bid with just under four minutes left in the second period, but the Red Wings' nine-game unbeaten streak was snapped. The Red Wings, who lost for just the second time in 16 games (10-2-4), allowed more than two goals for the first time in nine contests. Burke's stellar play last season helped carry Phoenix into the playoffs. The 35-year-old recorded a career-high 33 wins, was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender and finished fourth in voting for the Hart Trophy as the league's MVP. "(Burke) was very good. He's been like that since he's been back," Red Wings coach Dave Lewis said. "They play patient when he's in the net. They're not afraid to give up shots. They're from the perimeter and he's going to stop those. He's one of those players who has the ability to bring out the best in his teammates." Phoenix was winless in three games (0-2-1) prior to Burke's return. But the Coyotes' revival was confirmed by beating the Red Wings for the first time since January 31, 2000. "We set the tone early," coach Bob Francis said. "A lot of people wrote us off. So it's important (to record some wins) because, after a while, you write yourself off." Burke stopped all 14 shots he faced in the opening period. There was 5:12 remaining when Sergei Fedorov had a shorthanded chance. The Russian tried to roof it, but Burke made a spectacular glove save. "Fedorov was left alone on the 5-on-4 and he comes up with a big stop," Francis said. "When they did get one by us, it was good to see us come back with a big goal by Nagy." Just over two minutes after Avery tied it for the Red Wings, Nagy restored the Coyotes' one-goal advantage. Langkow's initial shot was stopped by Curtis Joseph, but Nagy tapped in the rebound to make it 2-1. "I don't think we gave them enough credit," Detroit left wing Brendan Shanahan said. "I didn't think the work ethic and effort was there tonight. They deserved to win, they had a better game plan and they had more players execute it better." Nagy scored for the fourth straight game and has seven points during the span. "I've been playing well with my linemates. Langkow and Johnson really helped me out," Nagy said. Nagy, who notched his first career assist at Detroit on November 24, 1999, set up both goals in the third. |
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