Blackhawks cruise past Coyotes
CHICAGO -- Marian Hossa scored two goals, and the Chicago Blackhawks cruised to a 4-0 win over the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday night.
Blackhawks goaltender Scott Darling stopped all 22 shots he faced to earn his first shutout of the season and the third of his career. Artem Anisimov and Dennis Rasmussen added goals as Chicago (17-8-3) snapped a two-game losing streak.
The Coyotes were shut out for the first time this season. Arizona (8-13-4) lost its second game in as many nights and dropped to 0-3-2 in its past five contests.
Darling stopped nine shots in the first period, six shots in the second and seven shots in the third to improve to 5-2-1. He started his third straight game in place of No. 1 netminder Corey Crawford, who is out for several weeks as he recovers from an emergency appendectomy.
Coyotes goaltender Mike Smith turned aside 23 of 27 shots.
Hossa increased his team lead by scoring his 13th and 14th goals of the season. His second goal came from point-blank range with 3:16 remaining in the third period to finish the scoring.
A power-play goal by Anisimov put Chicago in front 1-0 with 4:23 to go in the first period. Right winger Patrick Kane set up the goal with a pinpoint pass to Anisimov, who parked in front of the crease and punched the puck between Smith's legs for his 11th goal of the season.
Chicago scored two goals in 19 seconds to pull ahead 3-0 in the second period.
Hossa started the outburst with a strong drive to the net for his team-leading 13th goal with 13:34 to play in the second period. Left winger Ryan Hartman snapped a cross-ice pass to Hossa, who stopped the puck with his skate before pushing a shot past Smith.
The Blackhawks struck again moments later to grab a three-goal lead. Rasmussen scored from the front of the crease for his second goal of the season and first since Oct. 18.
Chicago defenseman Brent Seabrook headed to the locker room late in the second period after falling backward into the boards. Seabrook skated off the ice under his own power.
NOTES: Blackhawks C Jonathan Toews missed his seventh straight game because of an unspecified upper-body injury. Coach Joel Quenneville said he was hopeful Toews could return to practice this week and take part in the team's next road trip that starts Dec. 13 against the New York Rangers. ... Coyotes C Tyler Gaudet and D Kevin Connauton were healthy scratches. ... Blackhawks D Trevor van Riemsdyk returned after sitting out one game as a healthy scratch. The 25-year-old blue-liner replaced D Michal Kempny, who was a healthy scratch for the first time in the past four games. ... Coyotes LW Brendan Perlini played in his second straight game one night after making his NHL debut against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 20-year-old was the Coyotes' first-round draft pick (No. 12 overall) in 2014.