Coyotes 2, Panthers 1: Mike Smith turned aside 22 shots as host Phoenix took a two-goal lead in the first period and held on to post its third straight victory.

Radim Vrbata and Antoine Vermette scored for the Coyotes, who moved four points ahead of Dallas for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference. Smith lost his shutout bid with 4:07 left in the third period but made a big stop on Scottie Upshall late to improve to 7-2-0 in his last nine starts.

Scott Gomez scored for the first time since the season opener, snapping a 35-game drought to give the Panthers a chance. Roberto Luongo made 20 saves in his seventh start in eight games since being reacquired from Vancouver at the trade deadline.

Vrbata knocked home a loose puck during a power play 2:56 into the game after defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s shot attempt hit teammate Martin Hanzal’s skate. Vermette went to net and buried his own rebound with 1:22 left in the first period for his team-leading 23rd goal but first in eight games.

Smith, who recorded a win against Florida on March 11, stopped all six shots he faced in the second period and Luongo kept the Panthers in it with eight saves. Smith faced pressure early in the third before Gomez pulled the Panthers within a goal with a wrist shot from the high slot at 15:53.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Vrbata reached the 20-goal mark for the fourth time in his career - all with the Coyotes. … Florida has given up at least one power-play goal in seven straight games. … Phoenix RW Martin Erat was back in the lineup after missing three games with an upper-body injury and had six hits in 16:29 of ice time.