The Chicago Blackhawks, look to break their miserable 7-game losing streak, find themselves trying to comeback from a 2-0 early deficit against the Phoenix Coyotes.
The surging Phoenix Coyotes -- currently on a 4-game win streak, having won 5 of their last 6 -- jumped ahead early when RW Radim Vrbata snuck a wrap-around goal past an overwhelmed G Ray Emery just 3:14 into the game. The Blackhawks defense, and not just Emery who is getting his first shot at the starting goalie position, looked flustered through the six minutes of the game, allowing high-quality shots on goal early.
Less than three minutes after Vrbata's goal, C Boyd Gordon knocked a 10-foot wrister past Emery, giving the Coyotes a 2-0 lead quickly. Through the first period, the Phoenix offense mustered 13 shots on goal to the Hawks' 10. In the second period, Chicago will look to pull the game closer and play more diligent defense.
For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of this matchup, visit Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey and Coyotes blog Five For Howling. For more from around the league, head over to SB Nation's NHL news hub.