ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA // Lauri Korpikoski scored twice and netted the go-ahead goal to help the Phoenix Coyotes secure a 5-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks to give them some breathing space in a tight race for the NHL play-offs.
The Ducks, who entered the game in a tie for the eighth and the final play-off spot in the Western Conference, are now level in points with the fourth-place Los Angeles Kings and three points back of the third-place San Jose Sharks.
Korpikoski, who had given the Coyotes a 2-1 lead in the first period, broke a 2-2 tie that put the visitors in front for good with a wrist shot at 16:47 in the second.
David Schlemko and Shane Doan followed with the final two goals for Phoenix which also had 36 saves from goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov.
Corey Perry had each of Anaheim's goals and now has 36 for the season, but the Ducks are two points behind the Calgary Flames for the eighth play-off spot with 13 games remaining.
Elsewhere, a day after the Pittsburgh Penguins were shutout by the Montreal Canadiens in front of another sell-out crowd at their own rink, they gave their fans plenty to cheer with a 5-1 drubbing of Edmonton.
Chris Kunitz (2), Maxime Talbot, Jordan Staal and Zbynek Michalek got the Penguins goals, with Ryan Jones replying for the Oilers.
Buffalo downed Ottawa 6-4 in an emotional match played just hours after former Sabres favourite Rick Martin died in a car crash at the age of 59.
Tyler Ennis (2), Thomas Vanek, Paul Gaustad, Nathan Gerbe and Brad Boyes got the Sabres' goals, with Jason Spezza (2), Colin Greening and Erik Karlsson on target for the Senators.
Mike Knuble scored with 69 seconds of overtime remaining to give Washington a 4-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks - the Capitals' eighth successive win.
Boyd Gordon, Jason Arnott and Brooks Laich netted for the Capitals in regulation time, with Nick Leddy, Tomas Kopecky and Jonathan Toews replying.
The Los Angeles Kings enhanced their play-off hopes with a 3-2 defeat of the Dallas Stars.
Drew Doughty, Dustin Penner and Michal Handzus got the goals for the Kings, with Brad Richards and Jamie Langenbrunner on the mark for the hosts.
