Radim Vrbata scored the lone goal in the shootout as the Phoenix Coyotes erased a three-goal third period deficit to beat the Detroit Red Wings, 5-4.
Vrbata got Detroit goaltender Jimmy Howard on the ground and lifted a backhand shot over him as Phoenix won for the first time in five tries. Mikkel Boedker, Ray Whitney and Martin Hanzal all scored in the third period to help the Coyotes wipe out a 4-1 Red Wings advantage.
Johan Franzen scored for the first time in 15 games and Darren Helm added a shorthanded goal, but it didn't prevent the Red Wings from losing their third straight after losing in Anaheim and San Jose. Howard stopped 32 shots in net for Detroit, which got out-shot 36-26 for the game, a rare feat.
Todd Bertuzzi and Jiri Hudler both hit the post in nearly the identical spot in the skills competition for Detroit, who went 2-1-2 on their five-game road trip. Afterwards, Coyotes goalie Ilya Byzgalov thanked the post properly by planting a kiss on the pipe where Bertuzzi and Hudler clanged their shots.
Drew Miller gave Detroit a 1-0 lead 2:04 into the game by slipping a relatively weak shot under Bryzgalov from the left faceoff circle. Franzen's power play tally gave Detroit a 2-0 lead at the 16:57 mark, but Kyle Turris cut the lead in half with 1:19 to play after Howard couldn't get over to cover an empty net. It appeared a Coyotes player impeded his ability to move, but no call was made on the play.
Detroit responded as Filppula banked a shot from behind the net off Bryzgalov and in after the Coyotes netminder made the initial save to pad the lead to 3-1 in the second period. Then with Bertuzzi in the box, Helm out-hustled the Phoenix defense for a puck in the corner and fired a shot over Bryzgalov's glove for a 4-1 lead.
Things got out of hand for Detroit quickly though. Boedker scored just 2:32 into the third period, Whitney took a feed from Turris and slipped a shot through Howard at the 14:34 mark, and Hanzal banged home a centering feed with 1:57 left in the period.