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Coyotes top Blue Jackets in season opener

Sat 11th, October 2008

Glendale, AZ (Sports Network) - Olli Jokinen had a goal and an assist to lead the Phoenix Coyotes to a 3-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets at Jobing.com Arena.

Peter Mueller and Keith Yandle also lit the lamp for Phoenix, which opened its season on a high note. Ilja Bryzgalov stopped 28 of the 29 shots he faced.

Derick Brassard tallied his second goal of the season for the Blue Jackets, who opened their season on Friday with a 5-4 overtime win against Dallas. Pascal Leclaire let in the three goals on 30 shots in defeat.

Blue Jackets center Michael Peca was suspended indefinitely by the NHL on Saturday for making contact with an on-ice official. Peca was assessed a game misconduct penalty at 5:21 of the second period of Friday's win over Dallas. The alternate captain has appealed the suspension, but will remain on the bench pending a hearing scheduled for next week.

The Coyotes broke the scoreless tie early in the first on a power play. Kyle Turris gained control of the puck near the right circle and then found Jokinen sitting in front of the net. He then blasted the puck past an unsuspecting Leclaire for a 1-0 Phoenix lead with 6:11 gone in the first.

Phoenix made it 2-0 as Martin Hanzal took the face-off on a power play and passed to Jokinen, who found Mueller wide open in front of the net. Mueller connected on a one-timer and put the biscuit in the basket for a 2-0 lead with 1:47 left in the opening stanza.

The Blue Jackets made it a one-goal game as Christian Backman and Jakub Voracek assisted Brassard on a power play snap shot that found its way to the twine low and stick-side on Bryzgalov at the 4:10 mark of the second.

Phoenix, though, extended its lead to 3-1 about 2 1/2 minutes later. Yandle received the puck in the top right corner of the zone and smacked a slapper by a helpless Leclaire.

The goalies rose to the occasion in the third period and pitched a shut out.

Game Notes

Wayne Gretzky has a 108-122-17 mark as head coach of Phoenix, but his club is coming off an 83-point season last year, its best with the "Great One" on the bench...Phoenix made a huge move last year, acquiring Bryzgalov from Anaheim. He posted a 2.44 goals against average and a .920 save percentage, earning a three-year, $12.75 million contract in January...The Coyotes have won each of their last five home openers and seven of their last eight home openers. Since moving to Phoenix in 1996, the Coyotes are 10-2-0 in home openers...Phoenix forward Kevin Porter recorded his first NHL point, with an assist in the first period...Leclaire has allowed seven goals in two games this season...The Blue Jackets are on a four game road trip to start the season...Columbus won three of four from Phoenix last season, including both games at Jobing.com Arena.

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