The Blackhawks allowed three first-period goals in a 5-2 loss to the Coyotes on Thursday at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
Vinnie Hinostroza had three assists against his former team after going seven straight games without a point, and Darcy Kuemper made 27 saves for his second win in five days against Chicago. Clayton Keller scored two goals, Brad Richardson had a goal and assist and Christian Dvorak had two assists for Arizona (19-11-4), which is 6-3-2 in their past 11 games.
Dennis Gilbert recorded his first career NHL point with a secondary assist on Jonathan Toews’ goal for Chicago (12-13-6), which is winless in three straight (0-2-1) and 3-7-2 in its past 12. Robin Lehner made 35 saves in his second straight loss against Arizona (0-1-1).
Michael Grabner gave Arizona a 1-0 lead at 2:56 of the first period with a backhand shot from the right face-off circle. Richardson sent a pass to Grabner, who raced around Erik Gustafsson then lifted the puck over Lehner’s right shoulder.
Keller scored on a breakaway to make it 2-0 at 5:03. Jordan Oesterle sprung Keller on a breakaway then Keller shifted the puck from his backhand to his forehand and shot the puck through Lehner’s legs.
Richardson scored his first goal of the season at 15:04 when he redirected Jakob Chychrun’s shot from the point to make it 3-0.
Toews buried a rebound from Dominik Kubalik’s shot to trim Chicago’s deficit to 3-1 at 6:02 of the second period. Toews has three goals in his past five games.
Toews puts the #Blackhawks on the scoreboard. It’s 3-1 #Yotes. pic.twitter.com/YkwW8rKdxM
— Second City Hockey (@2ndCityHockey) December 13, 2019
Schmaltz ripped a shot from the left circle to make it 4-1 at 8:25. Dvorak won an offensive zone face-off against Dylan Strome then Schmaltz deked around Patrick Kane and snapped a shot into the net.
Brent Seabrook and Lehner prevented the Coyotes from adding to their lead in the 30 seconds of the middle frame. Seabrook broke up a 2-on-1 with a sliding stop then Lehner made a point-blank glove save on Phil Kessel.
Brandon Saad had a breakaway four minutes into the third period that was denied by Chychrun.
Jakob Chychrun with a great play on Brandon Saad. #Blackhawks #Yotes pic.twitter.com/6VLJgnNyso
— Second City Hockey (@2ndCityHockey) December 13, 2019
Strome scored on the power play for his first goal against his former team at 12:58. Alex DeBrincat fired a shot from the left circle that bounced off Kuemper for a diving Strome to backhand into the net.
POWER PLAY! POWER YAY!
Dylan Strome trims the deficit to 4-2 #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/4obuMBnD33
— Second City Hockey (@2ndCityHockey) December 13, 2019
Keller added his second goal of the game at 17:53 for the 5-2 final.
The Blackhawks were 4-for-4 on the penalty kill, including 3-for-3 in the first period. Chicago played its first game without defenseman Calvin de Haan (right shoulder), who was placed on injured reserve retroactive to Dec. 10.
Game Charts
Three Stars
- Keller (ARI) — 2 goals, game-high 12 SOG
- Richardson (ARI) — 1 goal, 1 assist
- Hinostroza (ARI) — 3 assists
What’s next
Chicago wraps up its three-game road trip Saturday against the Blues in St. Louis.