Coyotes at Blackhawks
THE STORY: With the way the Chicago Blackhawks have been scoring
lately, any defense they play at all gives them a chance to win. The
Blackhawks have posted at least four goals in seven of their last eight
wins to climb back into first place in the Central Division. Chicago has
three power-play goals over its last two games and is coming off a 5-2
triumph at St. Louis. Marian Hossa scored shorthanded and on the
man-advantage in that contest, snapping a six-game goalless drought and
joining teammates Jonathan Toews and Patrick Sharp in double figures.
Attempting to slow Hossa and company at the United Center on Monday will
be the visiting Phoenix Coyotes. One of the few teams to have stopped
the Blackhawks recently, the Coyotes earned a 4-1 win at Chicago on
Tuesday but have lost their two games since.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Versus, TSN
ABOUT THE COYOTES (13-9-3):
Phoenix has gone 0-for-6 on the power play over its last two games,
managing a total of two tallies in losses to the Winnipeg Jets and
Philadelphia Flyers. After allowing a total of two goals on the penalty
kill in November, the Coyotes got beat twice in the 4-2 loss to
Philadelphia on Saturday. Ray Whitney has been a bright spot for the
team, totaling three points in the win over Chicago last week and
collecting five in his last four games.
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (16-8-3):
The Phoenix loss is the only setback for the for Chicago over its last
five games. The Blackhawks have averaged less than two goals in their
last six losses but have only won once - a 2-1 win at Los Angeles on
Nov. 26 - when scoring less than four goals since Nov. 3. Top goaltender
Corey Crawford has struggled lately, allowing an average of 3.5 goals
in his last four starts.
OVERTIME:
1. Phoenix goaltender Mike Smith, who nearly shut
out Chicago, was pulled after allowing four goals in the first period
Saturday.
2. Sharp has 14 points - six goals - in his last 11 games.
3. Crawford is 3-1-1 with a 2.44 goals against average in his career against Phoenix.