It was close, and warranted a review, but Jeff Halpern’s goal eventually stood as the game winner for a Phoenix Coyotes team battling for a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Halpern scored with 3:05 remaining in the third of Monday’s game against the L.A. Kings, giving Phoenix a 4-3 win over their Pacific Division rival. The play had to be reviewed, but the call on the ice was overturned. That completed a third-period comeback for Phoenix. The Coyotes trailed by a goal going into the third period. For other teams this season, that’s mean a loss when up against the Kings.
This tweet from Sarah McLellan of azcentral sports heading into the third period sums up just how good the Kings have been with the lead heading into the final 20 minutes.
By the way, #LAKings are 21-0 when leading after two.
— Sarah McLellan (@sarah__mclellan) March 18, 2014
The win and two points are huge for the Coyotes. They jump ahead of the Dallas Stars for the final Wild Card spot in the West. The lead is only two points and Dallas has two games in hand.
But the Halpern winner provided serious drama in the final minutes.
That first shot went in the net. That should be a goal for the #Coyotes.
— Craig Morgan (@CraigSMorgan) March 18, 2014
That is a ginormous goal by @jeff_halpern. And there was no doubt about it.
— Craig Morgan (@CraigSMorgan) March 18, 2014