GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Coyotes gave coach Dave Tippett his 450th career victory, and the Devils gave theirs a headache.
A strong third period could not save a sluggish first two on Saturday night, as the Devils fell 3-2 to the Coyotes, two early Phoenix goals proving too much to overcome.
“We got off to a slow start and that was disappointing, inexcusable really for not having played yesterday,” Devils coach Peter DeBoer said. “We can’t spot anyone two goals. That’s the bottom line.”
Jaromir Jagr had a good chance with just over a minute left to bring the Devils back, but Mike Smith turned aside the offering, putting the finishing touches on the Phoenix victory.
Jeff Halpern scored for Phoenix, and Jordan Szwarz also had a goal before playing the third period with stitches in his chin after being cut with a skate late in the second. Phoenix has its first winning streak since Dec. 10-12 and gave Tippett another milestone, his 100th home win with the Coyotes.
For the Devils, Jagr scored his 696th career goal with 2:14 left in regulation, and Ryane Clowe had a goal and an assist.
The Devils’ strong defense of late — they had allowed six goals over the past five games — folded early.
Kyle Chipchura tracked down the puck behind the goal and sent a pass out front to Szwarz, who one-timed it past Martin Brodeur’s stick side for Phoenix’s first even-strength goal in more than 184 minutes.
Halpern made it 2-0 by taking a feed from Moss and beating Brodeur to the glove side from the left circle for his second of the season.
Phoenix dominated most of the first period, but New Jersey got on the board when Clowe punched in a power-play rebound for his second of the season at 18:44.
Hanzal put the Coyotes up 3-1 late in the second on a power play, tipping a shot by Keith Yandle then muscling it past Brodeur.
Jagr cut the lead to one after New Jersey pulled Brodeur for an extra attacker, but Smith made some tough saves in the final minute.
“If we would have had at least two lines going, it would have been a different story, but we only had one line doing anything,” Jagr said.