Recap: Edmonton vs. Phoenix

Edmonton, AB (Sports Network) - David Moss and Boyd Gordon both had one goal and one assist to lead the Phoenix Coyotes to a 3-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday.

Antoine Vermette also scored and Mike Smith stopped 29 shots for the Coyotes, who moved within one point of the Detroit Red Wings for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

"This was a do-or-die game for either team," Phoenix coach Dave Tippett said. "We got the points and we're still in the race."

Nail Yakupov tallied the lone goal for the Oilers, who have dropped four straight. Devan Dubnyk made 29 saves in the setback.

"It was too little too late for the result we needed, which was points," Oilers coach Ralph Krueger said. "It's a tough one to swallow. There are no points to give any more. We're not giving up. We need to do everything possible to win the next game."

Gordon's wrister 37 seconds into the second period gave the visitors a 1-0 lead. Gordon took the puck on the goal line and fired it on net. The disc bounced off Dubnyk and into the net for Gordon's fourth goal of the season.

Vermette's goal with 11 minutes left in the middle session proved to be the difference maker. Dubnyk went behind the net to recover a loose puck and tried to clear it out of the zone, but the disc went right to Vermette, who buried into the back of the net.

Yakupov pounded home a rebound with 12:11 left in the game to make it 2-1. Ryan Smyth found Yakupov with a shovel pass as he broke for the net and beat Smith with a wrister for his 10th tally of the season.

Moss' goal with nine seconds left accounted for the final margin.