SUNRISE, Fla., Jan. 30 (UPI) -- Defenseman Teppo Numminen and Daniel Briere each scored for Phoenix Wednesday night and the Coyotes won their third straight game with a 3-1 victory over the Florida Panthers.
Numminen scored the decisive goal 12:18 into the first period, giving Phoenix a 2-0 lead. After collecting a pass from Michael Handzus at the top of the right circle, Numminen fired a slap shot that hit Florida center Viktor Kozlov and beat Florida goaltender Roberto Luongo to the glove side.
With just over five minutes to play in the second period, Daniel Briere tallied his 20th goal, but it went unnoticed for several minutes.
Briere took a pass from Mike Johnson at the blue line and skated to the right circle, from where he put a slap shot over Luongo's shoulder. The puck hit the crossbar in the back of the net and bounced out. Briere celebrated the tally, but play continued.
At the next stoppage of play, video goal judge Brian Campbell notified referees Greg Kimmerly and Mark Faucette of the situation and the goal was allowed.
Florida failed to convert on four power plays in the final period. On two of their opportunities, Panthers coach Mike Keenan pulled goalie Trevor Kidd to give Florida a two-man advantage.
Daymond Langkow had two opportunites to seal the game with an empty-net tally, but shot wide of the net on each attempt.
Pavel Bure scored the only goal for Florida, which has two wins in its last 11 games and is winless in its last four games (0-3-1).
Radoslav Suchy had the other goal for Phoenix and former Panther Sean Burke finished with 41 saves for his second straight win since returning from a groin strain.
