PHOENIX, Feb. 9 -- All-Star Sean Burke made 38 saves for his 25th career shutout and Keith Tkachuk had a goal and an assist Friday night as the Phoenix Coyotes snapped a five-game winless skid with abig 2-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers.
Despite tying a season-low with 15 shots, Phoenix snapped a three-game losing streak and increased its lead to three points over Edmonton for seventh place in the Western Conference. Since starting the season 11-1-5-0, the Coyotes are 13-15-7-2.
Burke made 18 saves in the second period and 11 in the third for his third shutout of the season. He made his presence felt early by stopping a quick wrist shot by Georges Laraque before turning aside a redirection by Domenic Pittis despite having the Oilers forward crashing into him in the crease.
The veteran netminder was busiest in the second period but had to make some key saves in the third to preserve the shutout. With 5 1/2 minutes left, Burke got his chest in front of a one-timer by defenseman Sean Brown before gliding across the crease to stop Doug Weight's one-timer with 67 seconds left.
Tkachuk, who scored a goal in his return from a concussion on Wednesday, gave Burke the only goal he needed midway through the first period. After taking a drop pass from Jeremy Roenick at the top of the right faceoff circle, Tkachuk picked the top left corner for his team-leading 24th goal.
Roenick got the insurance marker with 9:09 left. He took a pass from Tkachuk at the right side and appeared to be attempting a return feed, but the puck sailed inside the left goalpost for his first tally in eight games.
Edmonton failed to convert on any of its six power-play attempts, falling to four for 51 over the last 10 games. Three of the goals came in a win at Calgary on Jan. 30.
