Blackhawks at Coyotes
The league-leading Chicago Blackhawks attempt to extend their season-opening point streak to 11 games when they continue their six-game road trip against the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday. Chicago remained the only team without a regulation loss Tuesday as it rallied from a two-goal deficit to post a 5-3 triumph over the San Jose Sharks. The Blackhawks are making their second visit this season to Phoenix, where they registered a 6-4 victory on Jan. 20.
The Coyotes also are riding a point streak that reached five games with a 2-1 home win over the Minnesota Wild on Monday. Phoenix is 3-0-2 during its run and has won the first two contests of its three-game homestand. The club is 3-0-1 over its last four games at Jobing.com Arena, outscoring its opponents 9-3 during that span.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, CSN (Chicago), FSN Arizona (Phoenix)
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (8-0-2): While Chicago's start to the season has been remarkable, the club still has a way to go in order to set an NHL record. The 2006-07 Anaheim Ducks own the mark for most games without a regulation loss to start a season as they went 12-0-4 over their first 16 games. Patrick Kane, who scored the game-winning goal on Tuesday, believes the Blackhawks are capable of eclipsing the record. "It's a good start. Hopefully, we can continue it," Kane told the team's website. "I think we can play even better, so that's the exciting part."
ABOUT THE COYOTES (4-4-2): Mike Smith appears to be fully recovered from the groin injury that sidelined him for four games. After suffering a shootout loss at Dallas in his return on Friday, Smith blanked the Stars the following night and yielded just one goal in Monday's win over Minnesota. Phoenix assigned center Alexandre Bolduc to Portland of the American Hockey League on Wednesday. Bolduc appeared in seven games with the Coyotes, registering nine shots on goal and two penalty minutes while failing to record a point.
OVERTIME
1. Including the playoffs, the road team has won six in a row and eight of the last 10 meetings between the teams.
2. Coyotes C Matthew Lombardi skated with the team on Wednesday but remains out indefinitely with an upper-body injury.
3. The Blackhawks wrap up their road trip Sunday at Nashville before beginning a seven-game homestand Tuesday against Anaheim.
PREDICTION: Blackhawks 4, Coyotes 1.