GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Phoenix Coyotes zipped around the ice, generating good scoring chances, getting into a scrap after a big hit, pumping in a goal late in the first period. It was just the kind of effort they needed against a team that had played the night before, particularly one thats ahead of them in the standings. Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored two goals, Thomas Greiss stopped 30 shots and the Coyotes kicked off an important five-game homestand with a 3-0 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday night. "We caught a team at the right time, but that being said, I thought we played the right kind of game to take advantage of it," Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said. "We kept getting pucks deep, we put some pucks at the net and it was a pretty solid game throughout our lineup." The Coyotes needed to string together some victories during their homestand after a rough stretch dropped them to ninth in the Western Conference. They responded with arguably their best game of the season, playing solid in their own end while peppering Jonathan Quick with 29 shots. Antoine Vermette had a goal and an assist to extend his points streak to five games and Shane Doan had his 500th career assist on Ekman-Larssons second goal. That was more than enough for Greiss, who had his second shutout this season, third career. "It was a huge game for us," Ekman-Larsson said. "We talked about this game and I think we played well for 60 minutes." Los Angeles laboured after playing the night before and for the fourth time in six nights. The Kings also continued to struggle in the offensive zone. Los Angeles was relegated to the outside mostly in the first two periods and hit the post twice in the third, unable to get anything past Greiss. The Kings have scored two goals in their past four games and have lost six of seven. "Tonight, I dont know how many really good chances we had," Kings captain Dustin Brown said. "Probably a bit of them playing really well and us not being hungry enough to get to the dirty areas and if were going to score goals, thats what were going to have to get back to." The Coyotes have been tumbling down the Western Conference standings, losing seven of their past 10 games. They did rally from a 4-2 deficit to earn a point against Vancouver Sunday night behind Vermettes third career hat trick. Phoenix still had its offensive mojo going early against the Kings, creating some good chances and while getting traffic in front of Quick, who made some tough stops, including a sprawling save on Jeff Halpern. Ekman-Larsson broke through late in the first period, whipping a wrister from the point past Quick. A physical game between two rivals became even rougher in the second period, when Jordan Nolan levelled Kyle Chipchura with a shoulder, setting of a scrum along the boards. Phoenix got a power play out of it and scored 12 seconds into it, when Ekman-Larsson beat Quick with a slapshot just outside the faceoff circle. Greiss had a string of tough saves as the game opened up late in the second period and Vermette put it out of reach in the third, punching in a rebound for his team-leading 19th goal of the season. The Kings hit the post twice in the final period, but, as has been the case lately, the pucks caromed away instead of into the net. "Theres a team-wide frustration and a personal frustration for some guys in here," Brown said. NOTES: Vermette has six goals and two assists during his points streak. ... The Kings have scored three goals in their past 38 power play chances. ... Coyotes LW Paul Bissonnette received a 10-minute misconduct in the second period for throwing punches at Nolan after his hit on Chipchura. Toronto Blue Jays Gear . Hes the same player he always was, only now his efforts are being rewarded. The rookie manager has made a habit of heaping praise on others when things are going well, and accepting criticism when they arent. But in the case of Hurtado, its what the coach is NOT saying that may be the secret to a superb run of form. Fake Blue Jays Jerseys .Y. -- The Montreal Canadiens have had few reasons to celebrate this season as they have been mired near the basement of the Eastern Conference. https://www.cheapbluejays.com/. -- Canadas Justin Shin shot an 8-under 64 on Thursday on PGA Wests Nicklaus Tournament Course to take the first-round lead in the Web. Toronto Blue Jays Store . The 36-year-old Colts receiver is going back to the playoffs as a division champion. Blue Jays Jerseys 2019 .com) - Even-money favorite Liams Map proved a little too tough down the stretch and won Saturdays $100,000 Harlans Holiday Stakes at Gulfstream Park.MINNEAPOLIS -- Josh Freeman has a new team, Minnesota has a new young quarterback and Tampa Bay has moved on. This was quite the eventful bye week for the Vikings and Buccaneers. Freemans agent, Erik Burkhardt, revealed the move in an exclamatory one-word tweet about his client Sunday night: "Vikings!!!" Burkhardt then confirmed to The Associated Press in a phone interview that the 25-year-old agreed to a deal worth $3 million for the rest of the season. Giving Freeman that much money for only 12 games signals a big step away from Christian Ponder in Minnesota. Freeman was released by the Buccaneers on Thursday, a week after he was benched in favour of rookie Mike Glennon. Ponder, the Vikings first-round draft pick in 2011, struggled in the first three games of the season, all losses. He threw five interceptions and lost two fumbles and didnt get much help from an offensive line that couldnt keep the pressure off of him, or open holes for star running back Adrian Peterson. Matt Cassel took over in the last game while Ponder rested his injured ribs, and he gave the struggling unit a jolt. Cassel brought some much-needed rhythm and timing to the offence while throwing for 248 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-27 win over Pittsburgh in London. But with Peterson still in his prime and an upgraded group of receivers with veteran Greg Jennings and rookie Cordarrelle Patterson, the Vikings need to settle this critical position that has been in flux since Brett Favre faded in 2010 and retired for good after that season. Cassel is 31, and hes coming off consecutive rough years with the Kansas City Chiefs. Leslie Frazier said Monday that Freeman will not play this Sunday because theres not enough time for him learn the offence before the team plays in Carolina this weekend. Frazier also said that Ponder remains the starter, though hes recovering from a broken rib that kept out against the Pittsburgh Steelers in week four. If Ponder isnt healthy enough to start Sunnday, Cassel will make his second consecutive start on Sunday for the Vikings.dddddddddddd The winless Bucs released Freeman after general manager Mark Dominik contacted every other team in the NFL in an unsuccessful attempt to trade Freeman, a 4,000-yard passer a year ago and the teams career leader with 1,144 completions and 80 touchdowns. Freeman is owed the remaining $6.25 million on the contract he signed as the third quarterback selected in the 2009 draft behind Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez. Coach Greg Schiano benched Freeman after he completed only 45.7 per cent of his passes and posted a league-low quarterback rating of 59.3 through three games. Freeman threw for 4,065 yards, 27 touchdowns and 17 interceptions in 2012, but his inconsistent play down the stretch contributed to the team losing five of six games and failing to make the playoffs for the fifth straight year. He led the Bucs to a 10-6 record -- though not a post-season berth -- while throwing for 25 TDs and only six interceptions in his first full year as a starter in 2010. Freemans release capped a tumultuous month in which he overslept before missing a team photo shoot, was not voted a captain for time since his rookie year, and reportedly missed at least one other team meeting. This week, the saga took a messy turn when Freeman released a statement through his agent, saying he had Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and entered the NFL substance-abuse program more than a year ago after mistakenly taking Ridilin instead of Adderall to treat the condition. The NFL Players Association is investigating the quarterbacks claim that someone in the Bucs organization leaked confidential information about him being in the program to the media. According to Freeman and Burkhardt, the quarterback has passed all 46 tests administered by the league. Freeman was declared inactive for last weeks game and watched Glennons debut from a suite at Raymond James Stadium. Schiano called that a "mutual decision." ' ' '