Coyotes-Blackhawks Preview
By Dave Vest
The Coyotes will play the final game of a five-game trip against the Chicago Blackhawks tonight at the United Center. The puck drops at 5 p.m. (Arizona time).
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Photo by Getty Images.
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Phoenix (33-21-9) will enter the game in second place in the Pacific Division standings, three points behind first-place San Jose, which is idle.
The Coyotes will be trying to snap a two-game losing streak during which they've been outscored 13-6. Phoenix has not lost three straight games in regulation on the road since Jan. 18 – Feb. 3, 2009 (88 road games).
Ilya Bryzgalov is expected to start in goal for the Coyotes after giving up five goals vs. Columbus in a 5-3 los on Friday night. It was his first defeat since Feb. 2.
The Coyotes on Saturday reassigned defenseman Nolan Yonkman and forward Brett MacLean to the American Hockey League. That's a good sign regarding the status of injured veterans
Ray Whitney and
Adrian Aucoin, both of whom have been sidelined with lower-body injuries.
Coyotes winger
Mikkel Boedker is riding a career-high three-game assist streak (0-4-4). Moreover, Boedker has assisted on Phoenix's first goal in each of the past three games.
Chicago (32-23-6) has won three straight games to pull within one point of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference standings.
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| Boedker |
Goalie Corey Crawford is leading the charge with 5-1-1 record with a 1.82 goals-against average in his last seven starts.
Though they've struggled recently - going 1 for 8 in their past four games - the Blackhawks still rank second in the NHL in power-play efficiency at 24.3 percent. Patrick Sharp (12), Jonathan Toews (eight), Troy Brouwer (seven) and Patrick Kane (five) have combined to score 32 power-play goals this season.
Blackhawks Head Coach Joel Quenneville, a good friend of Coyotes Head Coach Dave Tippett, was back on the bench Thursday after missing four games because of a bleeding ulcer.
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| Schlemko |
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Coyotes defenseman David Schlemko has notched two goals and an assist in the two games he has played since coming off the injured reserve list. |
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Sharp
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Blackhawks left wing Patrick Sharp has notched at least one point in four consecutive games and ranks tied for third in the NHL with 32 goals. |
- The Coyotes are 5-1-0 against Chicago since the start of last season after being outscored 23-5 while losing the previous six meetings.
- Coyotes winger Scottie Upshall, who is tied for the team lead with 16 goals, will return to the lineup tonight after serving a two-game suspension.
- This game can be seen on Fox Sports Arizona Plus. Click here for more information. This game can be heard on KFNN 1510 (AM). A link to the radio broadcast will be provided at phoenixcoyotes.com at 5 p.m.
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