Bryzgalov and defense lift Coyotes to 4-1 win over Bruins

Bryzgalov shines again in another Coyotes win

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Defensemen Ed Jovanovski, Adrian Aucoin and Keith Yandle scored for Phoenix, and Ilya Bryzgalov made 22 saves as the Coyotes won their third straight game, 4-1 over the Boston Bruins on Saturday night.

Shane Doan assisted on each of the first three goals for the surprising Coyotes, who have earned 10 points in their first seven games.

The Coyotes, who won three straight only twice last season, haven’t allowed more than two goals in a game since a season-opening 6-3 win in Los Angeles on Oct. 3. Much of the credit goes to Bryzgalov, who is 5-1 and has lowered his goals-against average to 1.15 by allowing only four goals in his last five starts.

David Kregci scored a power-play goal for Boston, cutting Phoenix’s 2-0 lead in half at 9:55 of the second period. Yandle answered with the second of two power-play goals for Phoenix at 15:10. Coyotes forward Scottie Upshall made it 4-1 just 44 seconds later, beating goalie Tim Thomas cleanly with a shot from the left wing.

Thomas shut out the Stars in Dallas on Friday, but allowed three goals on just 11 second-period shots by the Coyotes. Boston’s first visit to Phoenix since 2007 drew an announced crowd of 9,162.

Jovanovski, who scored in overtime against St. Louis on Thursday, put Phoenix ahead for good just 4:40 into the game. Charging in from the point, he slapped in Doan’s feed just 15 seconds after Boston’s Marc Savard was sent off for slashing.

Aucoin made it 2-0 at 6:33 of the second when his shot dribbled through Thomas’ pads.

NOTES: Boston LW Milan Lucic was sent home after sustaining an undisclosed injury in Dallas. The Bruins recalled forward Guillame Lefebvre from Providence (AHL). … The Coyotes have allowed only one first-period goal in their first seven games. Boston D Derek Morris played his 800th NHL game against the team with which he spent the past four seasons. Bruins RW Blake Wheeler, the fifth overall pick by Phoenix in the 2004 draft, was booed every time he touched the puck. Wheeler had refused to sign with Phoenix and went to Boston as a free agent.