Dvorak scores twice, Coyotes defeat Ducks to split two-game set

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Christian Dvorak scored his second goal of the game with 4:26 remaining, and the Arizona Coyotes defeated the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 at Gila River Arena on Thursday.

Darcy Kuemper kept it tied with a save against Kevin Shattenkirk on a breakaway at 14:28 of the third period after the Ducks defenseman exited the penalty box to end 28 seconds at 5-on-3 for the Coyotes.
With Jakob Silfverberg in the box for high-sticking Arizona's Derick Brassard at 13:51, Dvorak scored from the low slot off Phil Kessel's pass from the goal line to give the Coyotes the lead at 15:34.
"He made a great play and put it right on my stick," Dvorak said. "We were pretty confident about our game. We had a lot of possession time, and it was just about bearing down and going to the net and getting pucks to the net."
Kuemper made 14 saves for the Coyotes (3-4-1), who lost four of their previous five games, including consecutive 1-0 losses to the Ducks on Tuesday and the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday.
"There's pressure on all the teams right now," Arizona coach Rick Tocchet said. "It's a short (56-game) season, so if you lose a couple of games, the heat's right on you. So it was nice to get the win."

Silfverberg and Danton Heinen scored for Anaheim (3-3-2), which won its previous two games. John Gibson made 31 saves after making 31 for the shutout Tuesday.
The Ducks were outshot 34-16, including 12-1 in the second period, when they lost momentum from taking a 1-0 lead on Silfverberg's goal at 3:16 of the first.
"It's frustrating, for sure," Silfverberg said. "When we feel like it's maybe not them doing their best, rather it's us shooting ourselves in the foot. We got caught out there (on long shifts) way too many times. If you're out there for more than a minute, it's going to be a tough one."
Conor Garland put the Coyotes ahead 2-1 when his backhand pass from the left face-off circle went in off defenseman Jani Hakanpää's stick 52 seconds into the third period.
"We were focusing on trying to get to the front of the net and get those greasy goals," Arizona defenseman Jordan Oesterle said. "We got three greasy goals, it paid off, and now we've got to keep that going."

Heinen tied it 2-2 at 8:57 with Anaheim's first power-play goal of the season, scoring off the rebound of Cam Fowler's slap shot for his second goal in as many games. The Ducks were 0-for-17 on the power play.
"You'd like to at least grab a point if you can't get the win, and with that power-play goal, we were excited to finally get one in the net," Anaheim coach Dallas Eakins said. "So it's a pretty empty feeling right now."
Dvorak tied the game 1-1 at 7:43 of the second period when his shot from along the goal line deflected off Shattenkirk's left skate. It was the first goal for the Coyotes in 148:42.
"It was a good period for us, and it obviously got us going and gave us momentum," Dvorak said. "I thought we had a lot of energy. Obviously, we knew it was a big game for us, we didn't want to lose again here at home."
NOTES:The Ducks have been outshot 98-55 in the past three games. … Anaheim is averaging 1.75 goals per game through eight games (14 goals), last in the NHL. … Arizona went 2-2-0 on a four-game homestand against Vegas and Anaheim. … Dvorak has scored five points (three goals, two assists) in the past five games. … Kessel has scored 24 points (nine goals, 15 assists) in 22 games against the Ducks. … The Coyotes are 12-4-4 in their past 18 home games dating to last season.