GLENDALE -- On and off the ice, the Coyotes tried everything they could think of to whip Jobing.com Arena into a frenzy for a Game 3 they had to have to keep the Detroit Red Wings within range in this Western Conference quarterfinal series.

Ilya Bryzgalov

They called in Bruce Springsteen guitarist Nils Lofgren, who had been a perfect 5-0 when playing the National Anthem before Coyotes games, for an encore performance. They trotted out 6-year-old YouTube.com sensation Joshua Sacco to deliver his impassioned rendition of Herb Brooks' pregame speech from the movie "Miracle," casting the Red Wings in the role of the invincible Red Army Russians of 1980.

But before the capacity crowd of 17,130 fans, the majority dressed in "White Out" T-shirts, had a chance to unleash all that topped-off energy, the Red Wings had two goals and their Russian darling -- goalie Ilya Bryzgalov -- was again without answers against the team that confounds him the most.

And now, it will be a "Miracle on Ice" if the Coyotes can regroup and ever catch up to Detroit.

Goals by Ruslan Salei and Drew Miller -- not exactly the usual suspects -- just 2:41 into the game gave Detroit control of the arena and the series, putting the Coyotes' backs against the wall with a 4-2 win that felt much more decisive than the final score.

After taking the Red Wings the full seven games last season, the Coyotes now have to think in terms of avoiding a sweep, and an inglorious end to the season, when the series resumes on Wednesday...

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