OTTAWA -- Antoine Vermette scored three times -- including the overtime winner -- for the Phoenix Coyotes in a 4-3 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday afternoon. Justin Hunter Jersey . Vermette found a loose puck in front of Senators goalie Craig Anderson and pushed it through to the back of the net at 2:23. He now had three goals against his former team in five games. Radim Vrbata also scored for the Coyotes (19-10-6), who halted a three-game losing streak. Marc Methot, Kyle Turris, and Zach Smith had goals in a losing effort for Ottawa (14-17-7). The Senators have now lost three straight. Both goaltenders, Anderson for the Senators and Mike Smith for the Coyotes, saw plenty of action as Ottawa outshot Phoenix 40-38. Smith made solid back-to-back saves pad saves on Turris and Clarke MacArthur two minutes in overtime to keep the game going. The second, on MacArthur, Smith was on his stomach and just stretched his right leg out enough to get his toe on the puck. Seconds later Vermette scored the winner Vermettes second goal tied the game with just 2:13 to play in the third period and forced the overtime session. While on the power play the Coyotes were aided with two horrible clearing attempts by the Senators and eventually Vermette took a pass from David Moss and deposited the puck into an empty net behind a fallen Anderson. Ottawa was on the positive side of a 2-0 score early in the second period. Fresh from the penalty box, Zack Smith got a long pass from Eric Gryba and skated in on a partial break from centre ice and beat Mike Smith high to the stick side at 3:10. The lead was short lived though as the Coyotes scored twice in a little more than three minutes, including once on the power play, to tie the game. Vermette scored his first goal when he beat Anderson from the slot at 5:28. Vrbata then scored on the power play at 8:47 when he moved in from the point and beat Anderson short side with a shot that barely made it past teammate Martin Hanzal. Methot then gave the Senators the lead back with his goal at 14:51. Notes: Patrick Wiercioch, Joe Corvo and Mika Zibanejad were scratches for the Senators Saturday while the Coyotes elected to sit David Rundblad, David Schlemko, Paul Bissonnette and Jeff HalpernaSaturdays game was the first time Phoenix played in Ottawa since Oct. 26, 2010 when they lost 5-2aSenators defenceman Cody Ceci turned 20 on SaturdayaErik Karlsson of the Senators, lead NHL defenceman in scoring with 34 pointsaThe Phoenix Coyotes are the only NHL club this season the hasnt scored a short-handed goal. Ropati Pitoitua Jersey . - Eries top line of Dane Fox, Connor Brown and Connor McDavid combined for six goals and 14 points as the Otters crushed the visiting Windsor Spitfires 9-0 on Sunday in Ontario Hockey League play. Trent Murphy Jersey . On Tuesday, they did it again. Roy Hibbert scored 22 points and Lance Stephenson fell just short of his fourth triple double this season, helping the Pacers hold off Torontos late charge for an 86-79 victory that allowed them to keep the NBAs best record.Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky joined TSNs Gord Miller in Washington on Friday to talk hockey during the NHL on TSN broadcast of the Canadiens-Capitals game. Gretzky was asked if he believes Montreal Canadiens defenceman PK Subban should be on Canadas blueline in February at the Sochi Olympics. "Im not going to get in the middle of that controversy because Stevie Yzerman obviously knows what hes doing, he won a gold medal in 2010," said Gretzky. "Listen, thats the greatest thing about our game, theres so many good players. If you take PK Subban youre going to win a gold medal, obviously thats a big part of the success of our country is we have so many good players and so much depth. "I dont envy Stevie, its a tough job right now for him, and its a predicament that Im sure hes nervous about because there are so many good players. But I hope PK makes the team, hes a good young man." Gretzky had a chance to meet with Subban this week and Miller asked what the Great One said to last years Norris Trophy winner. "(I) told him to play hard every night, they dont take players who dont play hard every game. Just do the best you can and if you play as hard as you can every night, thats all you can ask for," recalled Gretzky. "(There are) a lot of good players in our country and as has always been the case all the way back to 1972 and the Summit Series, there are always some guys who are disappointed that theyre not a part of Team Canada. Brett Kern Jersey. " Miller asked Gretzky how he felt about recent talk at the NHL GM meetings about possibly extending overtime, or moving from 4-on-4 to 3-on-3 play. "I wish it was around when I played," joked Gretzky. "Its exciting, and I agree with people like (Red Wings general manager) Ken Holland who say You know what? Were just trying to keep the game exciting for the fans, and yet we dont want shootouts to determine the outcome of who is in the Stanley Cup playoffs. "So by going to a 3-on-3 or a 4-on-4, the game itself becomes more important than a shootout. As much fun and exciting as the shootout has been, I think this will be good for the game if they do go in that direction." Miller took a moment to ask if Gretzky had any desire to take another job in the NHL. "To me, its a great game. The players today are better and bigger and stronger then they have ever been," said Gretzky. "Its fun to watch, we should be very proud of the game we have right now, and Im very excited just to be a fan." ' ' '
