Abid has two goals and one big thrill



Mario Lemieux was held scoreless for the second straight game.
PHOENIX (AP) -- If Phoenix rookie Ramzi Abid was in awe of being on the ice with Mario Lemieux, it didn't affect his shooting.
Abid, recalled three days earlier from the minors, had two goals and an assist as the Coyotes beat Lemieux's Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2 Tuesday night.
"Growing up in Montreal, it was a great thrill to play against Mario, my boyhood idol," Abid said. "You know, I've skated with (Coyotes owner) Wayne Gretzky and I played against Mario tonight. It's an unbelievable feeling. I can't describe it."
Others
Tony Amonte had a goal and an assist, and Branko Radivojevic and Mike Johnson also scored for the Coyotes, who picked up their seventh point in five games (3-1-1) after winning just once in 11 previous contests.
Pittsburgh's Ville Nieminen had a goal and an assist. Jamie Pushor also scored, and Milan Kraft had two assists.
But Lemieux, the NHL's top scorer and assists leader, was held scoreless for the second straight game.
"They really frustrated him," Coyotes coach Bob Francis said about his defensive line of Daymond Langkow, Johnson and Ladislav Nagy. "They kept him on the perimeter for the most part, kept the quality chances down. And, when there were those opportunities, he didn't see too many second shots."
The Penguins, winless for a season-high ninth game in a row (0-8-0-1), finished a five-game road trip with just one point.
Brian Boucher of Phoenix had 21 saves, including 14 in the scoreless second period, when Lemieux put six shots on net.
Abid, who assisted on Amonte's goal, broke a 2-2 tie 52 seconds into the third period of his third NHL game. The 22-year-old left wing charged down the slot, and Amonte fed him a precise pass.
Excellent move
Abid made a move and lifted the puck over Johan Hedberg's right shoulder.
"What a beautiful goal on the breakaway, the game-winner," Boucher said. "That's a goal on anybody. That's just an unbelievable move to the backhand. You see guys do that to the forehand and go top shelf, but he went to the backhand and shelf. Great goal."
Hedberg finished with 25 saves.