Can't stop Coyotes

NHL teams

"The first goal in the NHL is very important. A lot of times, in fact most of the time, the team that scores first goes on to win," Phoenix coach Jim Schoenfeld said. "So it was good that we battled back and added to the lead. It wasn't a situation where we had the one-goal lead and tried to sit on it. We kept attacking and the guys were rewarded."

Rick Tocchet had a goal and two assists and Teppo Numminen, Brad Isbister and Dallas Drake each had a goal for the Coyotes third straight win leaving them tied with Dallas on top of the Pacific Division.

Undefeated Jimmy Waite played spectacularly allowing only an early goal to Vancouver's Dave Scatchard and one with 3:54 left to play to Peter Zezel.

"I want to keep on playing well. I'm in one of the best streaks of my life," Waite said. "It's always more fun when you play. I had a chance to play four games in a row, but both of us have been playing well and the defense has been excellent."

Vancouver again failed to make coach Mike Keenan only the sixth coach in NHL history to win 500 games.

"We took too many undisciplined penalties again. We have talked about it, stressed it and it doesn't seem to have an impact on our club at this point." Keenan said.