FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, March 30, 2011

GLENDALE, ARIZONA --- Phoenix Coyotes goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov recorded his 129th victory as a member of the Coyotes on Tuesday night stopping a career-high 44 shots en route to defeating the Dallas Stars 2-1 in a shootout. In the process, he tied the all-time franchise wins record held by Bob Essensa (129).

Ilya Bryzgalov

Bryzgalov has posted a record of 35-19-8 in 64 games this season. He won his 30th game of the season on Sunday, March 13 at Anaheim to become the first Coyotes goaltender to post consecutive 30-win seasons since Nikolai Khabibulin (1996-99). Bryzgalov also tied Khabibulin (21) on the all-time franchise shutout list with his seventh shutout of the season on Thursday, March 24 versus Columbus. He won eight consecutive games from February 5–22, new career-high and posted back-to-back shutouts on Feb. 5 versus Minnesota and Feb. 7 versus Colorado for the first time during the regular season in his career.

The Russian netminder will have a chance to become the winningest goaltender in franchise history this Friday when the Coyotes host the Colorado Avalanche at 7 p.m. The first 10,000 fans in attendance will receive a limited edition Bryzgalov bobblehead, courtesy of Fry’s Food Stores. For more information or to purchase tickets please call 480-563-PUCK (7825) or visit phoenixcoyotes.com.