Interview Ecke » me off the bench to earn his first Canadian cap.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Penguins spot in the post-season is assured. The Phoenix Coyotes are living much more dangerously. For long stretches during Phoenixs 3-2 win on Tuesday night, it certainly looked like the other way around. Pouncing on a series of sloppy mistakes by the suddenly erratic Penguins, the Coyotes picked up two vital points in the chase for the eighth-seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Thomas Greiss stopped 23 shots -- including all 15 he faced over the final two periods -- and received plenty of help as Phoenix rebounded a night after losing starting goaltender Mike Smith indefinitely with a right leg injury in a loss to the New York Rangers on Monday. David Moss, Antoine Vermette and Mikkel Boedker scored for the Coyotes, who never trailed while dropping the Metropolitan Division-leading Penguins to just 6-6-2 since the Olympic break. "It gives confidence that if you can win in Pittsburgh you can win anywhere," Phoenix forward Shane Doan said. Jussi Jokinen and Taylor Pyatt scored for the Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury made 26 saves, but the Penguins failed to clinch a playoff berth and looked lifeless at times without centre Evgeni Malkin, who is out 2-3 weeks after hurting his foot in a loss to St. Louis on Sunday. While hes expected by the end of the regular season, his absence is just the latest setback in a season in which Pittsburgh has lost over 400 man games due to injuries. It didnt seem to bother the Penguins as they built a seemingly insurmountable division lead. Coach Dan Bylsma isnt sure now is the time to start throwing around blame. "I dont think injuries had anything to do with today or what you saw on the ice," he said. More disconcerting for Pittsburgh is its lack of focus. The Penguins held a brief players only meeting after the game and cancelled a scheduled practice on Wednesday. "I dont think theres anyone feeling sorry for us, but that still doesnt allow us not to have the right type of effort and work ethic," centre Sidney Crosby said. Phoenixs play had a little bit to do with it. If the Coyotes were rattled by the loss of their franchise goaltender, it didnt exactly show. Greiss has been effective when spelling Smith this season, though he wasnt sharp while allowing the Rangers to steal two points Monday by rallying for an overtime victory after he replaced Smith with 7:32 left in regulation and the Coyotes holding a one-goal lead. No matter. Despite a short turnaround in the midst of a three-game road trip that could shape the final weeks of the regular season, Greiss kept the Penguins in check. "I thought we did a good job of being close to one another," Moss said. "It seemed like if there was a breakdown, there was support. If they had a chance, (Greiss) made a huge save." Whenever Pittsburgh made a mistake deep in its own zone, the Coyotes were there to take advantage. Moss picked up his seventh goal of the year when great forechecking by Martin Hanzal and Brandon McMillan produced a turnover that ended with Moss all alone in front of the Penguins net. Jokinens 18th goal of the season tied it 11:51 into the period, kind of. His wrist shot caromed out of the back of the net so quickly the goal light never came on. Play continued for nearly 3 minutes before a stoppage in play provided time for the goal to be awarded on replay. Vermette put Phoenix back in front with a power-play goal, poking a rebound between Fleurys legs. Pyatt knotted it at 2 with just 4 seconds left in the first by deflecting in Rob Scuderis shot from the point. The back-and-forth play, however, stopped over the final 40 minutes as the Coyotes choked off the Penguins while continuing to effectively counterpunch. Boedker put Phoenix in front to stay 13:18 into the second period by grabbing a rebound in front of the Pittsburgh net and roofing it over Fleurys glove as a penalty to Jokinen expired. NOTES: Injured Penguins defenceman Paul Martin did not skate on Tuesday morning due to an illness. Martin, who has not played since injuring his hand while playing for Team USA in the Winter Olympics, will have an X-ray on Sunday to determine his progress. ... The Coyotes recalled G Mark Visentin from the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League to serve as the backup until Smiths status is determined. ... The Penguins host Los Angeles on Thursday while Phoenix wraps up its road trip Thursday in New Jersey. Walter Payton Jersey . Trailing 2-1 from the first leg, Fiorentina levelled on aggregate in the 14th minute when Joaquin Sanchez Rodriguez headed back a long ball from David Pizarro and Pasqual smashed home an angled volley. Brian Urlacher Bears Jersey . The White Sox said Wednesday they acquired left-handed pitching prospect Sean Bierman and infielder Ben Kline, who both played at Class A this season. The White Sox dealt Crain to Tampa Bay on July 29. http://www.chicagobearfootballauthentic.com/authentic-brian-urlacher-bears-jersey/ .C. -- Marcus Paige and his North Carolina teammates have endured so many wild swings -- big wins, surprising losses, NCAA drama -- that no one can blame their Hall of Fame coach for wondering whats next. Gale Sayers Jersey . The Marlies centre set up three goals, including the game-winner, as Toronto cruised to a 4-1 victory over the Oklahoma City Barons in American Hockey League action. Walter Payton Bears Jersey . The club was unable to retain hitting coach Kevin Seitzer, who is bound for Atlanta. Seitzer replaces Greg Walker, who was assisted by Scott Fletcher this season as the Braves finished 79-83.COLWYN BAY, Wales - Nanyak Dala scored a try in the 56th minute and Canada held on to defeat Namibia 17-13 in an international rugby test match Friday.Canada led 9-6 at the half and added some early insurance in the second half with Dalas try.But Namibia star Jacques Burger, who plays for Saracens in England, rumbled over the line for a converted try with five minutes remaining to make things interesting at Parc Eirias in north Wales.Its a win in a test match and we finally got over the line in one which is good, said Canadian coach Kieran Crowley. Heart in the mouth a little bit towards the end but Namibia put a lot of pressure at the breakdown We had a lot of opportunities. Therell be a lot of good learning from the video footage of that game, I would think ... Now we have something to build on going towards (the game against) Samoa.Gordon McRorie kicked four penalties for Canada. Theuns Kotze booted two penalties for Namibia.Jordan Wilson-Ross came off the bench to earn his first Canadian cap.We gutted it out, he saiid.dddddddddddd It was kind of sloppy at times but we pulled it together, did what we had to do ... and got the win.Canada is ranked 17th in the world, compared to No. 22 for Namibia. The win ended a string of four straight losses this year for the Canadians, whose last victory was a 52-8 decision over Portugal in Lisbon last November.Both Canada and Namibia are headed to the World Cup next year, albeit in different pools. Namibia is the only one of the 20 teams at the 2015 tournament that has yet to win a game at the rugby showcase.In the only previous meeting between the two, Canada thumped Namibia 72-11 at the 1999 World Cup.The Canadians head to France next to take on No. 9 Samoa in Vannes on Nov. 14 before wrapping up the tour Nov. 22 in Bucharest against No. 16 Romania.Canada and Romania are both in Pool D at the World Cup, along with No. 5 Ireland, No. 7 France and No. 14 Italy.The Canadian men opened their tour with a 28-23 loss last Saturday to an RFU Championship XV side in Worcester, England. ' ' '