PHOENIX (Ticker) -- Even though they fell short of an NHL record, the Phoenix Coyotes managed to extend their unbeaten streak.
Brian Savage's second goal of the game with 1:45 remaining snapped a tie and lifted the Coyotes to a 5-4 victory over the St. Louis Blues, snapping Phoenix's stretch of consecutive overtime contests.
After enduring a nine-game winless streak, the Coyotes put together a string of five straight overtime games, going 2-0-2-1. The run matched the NHL record, which had been accomplished five other times since the inception of the five-minute extra period in 1983.
This one seemed destined to break the mark as Scott Mellanby scored a power-play goal 3:20 into the third period to pull St. Louis even at 4-4.
"We have gone to overtime in the last five games and it looked like it was going that way, too," Savage said.
But with time winding down, Savage - who also scored the game's first goal - grabbed Shane Doan's rebound on the doorstep and slipped it by goaltender Chris Osgood to extend the Coyotes' unbeaten streak to four (2-0-2).
"We had a 2-on-1 and Lanks (Daymond Langkow) made a great pass to Doan," Savage said. "The goalie made a great save, but I was right there for the rebound."
Doan recorded his first multi-goal game of the season and Langkow added three assists for Phoenix, which won for the sixth time in its last eight home meetings with St. Louis.
"That line was very solid tonight," Coyotes coach Bob Francis said of the unit of Langkow, Doan and Daniel Cleary. "I thought they were struggling a little bit early, but when we fell behind by two, which is a tribute to their character, they picked it up and obviously changed the complexion of the game around."
Doug Weight set up all four goals by the Blues, who had won eight of their previous 10 games.
"I am happy to contribute, for sure, and I am happy that things were going well when I was out there, but it is unacceptable to lose this game," said Weight, who returned after serving a four-game suspension. "Last three weeks, we've been hard to play against. Tonight, we weren't."
Savage gave Phoenix a 1-0 lead 51 seconds into the contest, but former Coyote Dallas Drake scored midway through the first to draw St. Louis even. Ryan Johnson's shorthanded tally and a power-play goal by defenseman Chris Pronger less than four minutes apart in the second gave the Blues a 3-1 advantage.
Former St. Louis first-round draft pick Jeff Taffe cut into the Coyotes' deficit at 13:09 and Doan scored twice in a 2:49 span later in the period to put Phoenix ahead.
"We let them get up 3-1 on us again and I'm sure our coaching staff is pulling their hair out with what's going on and 'Why can't we play 60 minutes?'" Doan said. "At the same time, we found ways to continue and get back in it."
