Coyotes 4, Blackhawks 1
Mike Smith came within 43 seconds of a shutout and Ray Whitney record a goal and two assists as the visiting Phoenix Coyotes rolled over the Chicago Blackhawks, 4-1, on Tuesday.
Daymond Langkow, Shane Doan and Radim Vrbata each collected a goal and an assist for the Coyotes, who have won three of four.
Langkow, who has totaled four points in two games since an eight-game absence, opened the scoring late in the first when he stuffed his fourth tally underneath Corey Crawford’s leg and Doan made it 2-0 on a one-timer midway through the second.
Things fell apart for Crawford and the Blackhawks early in the third period, when Vrbata’s 12th goal bounced off Duncan Keith’s leg and over Crawford’s pad.
Chicago’s top netminder was pulled four minutes later, as he covered the far post on Whitney’s wrister from the near side.
The Blackhawks just returned from a six-game road trip in which they allowed five or more goals three times. The Central Division leaders have dropped four of their last six games overall.
Patrick Sharp’s 11th tally broke up Smith’s bid for back-to-back shutouts in the final minute. Smith finished with 24 saves.