"What started as the perfect scenario for a team desperate for points evaporated into a head-scratching and bitter defeat for the Coyotes on Tuesday night.

Goaltender Mike Smith was on top of his game in the first period, and the Coyotes, with a 1-0 lead, looked to be en route to the type of effort they needed to get moving in the right direction after the All-Star break.

The Anaheim Ducks, spurred by center Andrew Cogliano, had other ideas, and the Coyotes dropped a 4-1 decision in front of 10,579 at Jobing.com Arena.

Cogliano, who entered the game with eight goals, burned Smith three times in 6:51 of the second period to record his first career hat trick, a natural, to lead the Ducks."