Coyotes 3, Blackhawks 2 (SO)
CHICAGO -- David Schlemko's goal in the shootout lifted the Phoenix Coyotes to 3-2 upset win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday in front of a season-high of 22,272 at the United Center.
To add insult to injury for Blackhawks fans, it was Schlemko's first goal of the season.
The Coyotes desperately needed the win to keep their floundering hopes of making the eighth and last seed for the Western Conference in the upcoming Stanley Cup playoffs.
Phoenix stopped Chicago's seven-game winning streak, while at the same time stopping its own skid -- the Coyotes had losses in four of their past five games coming into Saturday night's game.
Even with the loss, Chicago still maintains its mark as the NHL's top team, now 35-5-5. Phoenix, meanwhile, helped its fading playoff hopes by climbing to 19-17-8.
Each team had only three shots in the shootout. In addition to Schlemko's goal, Mikkel Boedker scored for Phoenix, with Radim Vrbata being stopped by Chicago goalie Corey Crawford.
Chicago, meanwhile, was held to only one goal in the shootout, that coming on center Patrick Kane's backhander past Phoenix goalie Mike Smith. Marian Hossa and Patrick Toews failed to score for the Blackhawks in the shootout.
Gone for naught in the game was Chicago's ability to kill all of Phoenix' power-play opportunities, while the Blackhawks cashed in on two man-advantages. Chicago's penalty kill has stopped 30 of 36 man disadvantages in the last 16 games.
With Phoenix fighting to get the last playoff spot in the Western Conference, Chicago came into the game looking to extract some revenge.
For it was the same Coyotes who shocked the Blackhawks in last season's Western Conference quarterfinals, sending heavily-favored Chicago home while Phoenix advanced.
The Blackhawks also came into the game seeking a sweep of the season series between both teams. Chicago won the first two meetings 6-4 and 6-2.
Chicago opened the scoring at 11:20 of the first period on Brent Seabrook's seventh goal of the season, a wicked slap shot on the power play from the top of the left circle that sailed past Smith.
But the Blackhawks had little time to enjoy that tally as Phoenix' Rostislav Klesla scored his second goal of the season 46 seconds later, tying things at 1-1.
Phoenix went ahead 2-1 at 14:40 of the first on Radim Vrbata's ninth goal of the season, and the period ended up with Phoenix leading 2-1, even though the Blackhawks outshot the Coyotes 16-9 in the opening stanza.
Seabrook carried the Hawks on his shoulders again early in the second period, scoring his second goal of the game (eighth) on the power play at 3:39, knotting the score at 2-2.
NOTES: Even though he had a tenuous night in Friday's 5-4 overtime win over Nashville, Corey Crawford started again in goal for Chicago. Ray Emery started in the previous two games this season vs. the Coyotes. ... Michal Handzus' goal in Friday's game was his first as a Blackhawk. He was acquired before the trade deadline from San Jose on April 1. ... Who do you believe? Chicago's game notes for the media said the Blackhawks came into the game holding a 58-46-15-7 all-time record against the Coyotes. But Phoenix' game notes had the record at 57-53-15-3 in the Hawks' favor. ... The Hawks head out on a two-game road trip with games at Vancouver on April 22 and at Edmonton on April 24. They return to Chicago for their final regular-season home game, against Calgary, on April 26, and then visit St. Louis on April 27 before beginning playoff action. ... Phoenix plays Monday at Detroit, followed by home games against San Jose (April 24) and Colorado (April 26) before their final regular-season game, on the road at Anaheim (April 27).
