BITTERSWEET DAY FOR DUCKS BEAT PHOENIX, BUT PRONGER OUT AGAIN.

Byline: ELLIOTT TEAFORD

Staff Writer

ANAHEIM -- The news wasn't all that bad for the Pacific Division-leading Ducks on Wednesday. They did manage to take a 2-1 victory from the Phoenix Coyotes at the Honda Center, extending their lead to nine points over the idle San Jose Sharks.

Defenseman Joe DiPenta scored the go-ahead in the third period for the Ducks, who improved to 3-0 on their season-high eight-game home stand. The Ducks (40-17-11) also defeated the Coyotes for the 10th consecutive time in Anaheim.

However, the Ducks learned former Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Chris Pronger would be sidelined for at least two weeks after breaking a bone in his toe.

Pronger was injured while working out after Sunday's 3-2 shootout victory over the Nashville Predators at the Honda Center. He declined to explain exactly how it happened except to call it an "unfortunate weight-room incident."

"It was painful, so I figured something was wrong," said Pronger, who was tied for fifth among NHL defensemen with 53 points (11 goals, 42 assists) going into Wednesday's games. "It's pretty frustrating."

It's the latest in a string of injuries this season for Pronger, who sat out nine games after breaking his left foot Dec. 31 against Minnesota. Asked if this latest injury was in the same foot, Pronger said, "Yep, why wouldn't it be?"

Pronger also was struck in the chin and throat by a slap shot from the Kings' Lubomir Visnovsky on Feb. 18, but did not miss any games.

Ducks coach Randy Carlyle managed to crack a joke at Pronger's expense, telling reporters at Wednesday's morning skate, "I told him to drink more milk."

Carlyle was forced to shuffle his defense pairs, playing Pronger's customary partner, Sean O'Donnell, with Scott Niedermayer. Francois Beauchemin, Niedermayer's partner, played with Ric Jackman. DiPenta and Kent Huskins formed the third pair.

O'Donnell and Niedermayer hardly had time to break a sweat before Shane Doan scored 31 seconds into the game to give Phoenix a 1-0 lead.

Jackman's first goal since the Ducks acquired him Jan. 2 from the Florida Panthers tied the score at 1-1 at 5:15.

Chris Kunitz narrowly missed putting the Ducks ahead in the third period, but Michael Zigomanis swatted a slow roller that eluded Mikael Tellqvist off the goal line.

The Coyotes weren't so lucky on DiPenta's pinball shot from the right wing later in the period, the puck striking two Phoenix players before sliding into the back of the net for a 2-1 lead for the Ducks at 11:58.

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Phoenix's Fredrik Sjostrom, left, sets up in the slot as the Ducks' Andy McDonald defends Wednesday.

Michael A. Mariant/Associated Press