David Vest
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 5, 2006 01:39 AM
One home victory at a time, the Coyotes are climbing out of the hole they dug themselves in the first month of the season.
Patrick Fischer scored an even-strength goal midway through the third period to lead Phoenix to a 3-2 victory over Nashville Monday night at Jobing.com Arena.
The Coyotes trailed 2-0 but scored three unanswered goals in the final 23 minutes to win their season-high third consecutive game overall and their fifth straight game at home.
Phoenix is 7-6-0 since wining just three of 12 games in October.
The Coyotes committed just three penalties, all in the second period.
"We played really disciplined hockey," coach Wayne Gretzky said. "I was happy with the outcome, but even more than that I was proud of how hard our guys played for 60 minutes."
Goalie Mikael Tellqvist, making his first appearance for Phoenix since being acquired in a trade last week, made 19 saves.
After scoring a short-handed goal in the first period, Nashville upped its lead to 2-0 with 3:10 left in the second period when rookie Alexander Radulov redirected a Shea Weber slap shot past Tellqvist.
Oleg Saprykin started Phoenix's comeback when he jabbed his stick between Nashville goalie Chris Mason's pads and poked the puck into the Nashville goal with 2:19 left in the second period.
With the Coyotes trailing 2-1, center Yanic Perreault scored his team-high eighth goal 28 seconds into the third period during a Phoenix power play.