CALGARY, Alberta (CP) – Curtis Joseph recorded his 44th career shutout as the Phoenix Coyotes blanked the Calgary Flames 2-0 on Monday night.

Mike Ricci scored with 7:14 left in the third period to break the scoreless tie. A hard shot from Fredrik Sjostrom drifted over the net but the puck caromed off the end boards and Ricci knocked the rebound past goalie Miikka Kiprusoff.

Boyd Devereaux added an empty net goal with 36 seconds left.

Joseph recorded 25 saves for the Coyotes, who earned coach Wayne Gretzky his first road victory. He had been winless in his first three games away from Phoenix.

Calgary had five power-play opportunities in the first period, but Joseph turned away all 11 shots. He is 25-8-3 in his career against the Flames.

Kiprusoff stopped 19 shots for the Flames, who have won just once in their last five games.

Phoenix (2-4-1) began a four-game road trip and snapped a three-game winless skid.

The Coyotes missed a chance to extend their lead with about four minutes left in the third period when Oleg Saprykin missed a penalty shot.

Calgary center Matthew Lombardi needed to be helped off the ice after suffering an injury to right leg in a freak fall early in the third period. As he skated out to pressure Saprykin in the Flames end, his skates slipped out from under him and he slid heavily feet first into the side boards.

Notes: Ricci was playing his first game after missing the last three games with a nose injury. … Former Calgary D Denis Gauthier was out of the Coyotes lineup with a hand injury suffered Saturday night. Replacing him was Sean O’Donnell, a healthy scratch the previous two games. … Only six Coyotes in uniform Monday night (Shane Doan, Paul Mara, Derek Morris, Tyson Nash, Mike Comrie, Fredrik Sjostrom) were also in the lineup the last time the Flames and Phoenix met on March 31, 2004. … Calgary has won the previous six meetings between the two teams.

AP-ES-10-17-05 2359EDT

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