EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) -Just when it looked like the Edmonton Oilers were headed for another disappointing performance at Rexall Place, a third-period power surge salvaged a much-needed home victory.

Sheldon Souray and Andrew Cogliano scored power-play goals in the final period, lifting the Oilers to a 4-2 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes on Monday night.

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Zack Stortini and Marc Pouliot also scored for Edmonton, which ended a three-game winless streak (0-2-1) and improved to 5-5-3 at home.

Oilers coach Craig MacTavish was relieved to see his team come back after allowing Phoenix to come back and tie the score in the second period after Edmonton led 2-0.

``That game ended a whole lot better than it could have,' MacTavish said. ``We lost the momentum in that game in the second. We didn't have a great second but we rallied in the third and were pretty decent there.'

The Oilers were just happy to head into the holidays without another bad loss.

``When you lose these kind of games, especially with the situation we are in, it can kind of fester when you have a few days off,' Souray said. ``Not that we are out of the woods yet by any means, but to have a couple days to get away on a win and not have to think about it. That's good timing for us.'

MacTavish said he wanted the team to feel like they are coming back from the holidays with a fresh start to the season.

``I don't want them thinking about hockey,' MacTavish said. ``I want them to get away from the game and enjoy a couple days with their families. Maybe get on a bike too, though.

``We need a break. It has been a pretty tumultuous start.'

Martin Hanzal and Enver Lisin scored for the Coyotes, who snapped a three-game winning streak. Phoenix was also unbeaten in regulation in its previous six games (4-0-2).

``We weren't good enough in the first,' Coyotes captain Shane Doan said. ``Obviously they jumped on us and because of that it put us in the hole and that's where we lost the game, unfortunately.'

The third-period power play opportunities didn't help either.

``You give them three 5-on-3s and it's going to hurt you and obviously tonight it did,' Doan said.

Stortini started the Oilers off just 5 minutes into the game. After leveling Todd Fedoruk on an open-ice hit, Stortini got his first goal of the season when he scored after a prolonged scramble in front of the Phoenix net.

Pouliot made it 2-0 less than 2 minutes later, taking a pass from Cogliano on a give-and-go and sending a shot past Tellqvist's outstretched glove.

The Coyotes tied the score in the second period when they outshot the Oilers 17-5.

Hanzal pulled Phoenix within one with 7:37 left in the period, sliding the puck past Oilers goalie Dwayne Roloson while being defended by Souray.

Phoenix tied the score on a power play with 2:23 left as Ed Jovanovski stole the puck from Steve Staios and sent it to Lisin, who blasted it from the slot past Roloson.

Notes: Phoenix was without F Peter Mueller, out because of a sore leg. ... Edmonton won all four meetings between the two teams last season, including two at home in which the Oilers gave up a combined 13 goals. .... It was just the Oilers' fifth win in 13 home games this season. Only Tampa Bay has fewer home victories.