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Hamilton's hat trick helps Blackhawks top Coyotes

Mar 11, 2007 - 7:07 AM GLENDALE, Arizona (Ticker) -- With no chance to make the playoffs, Jeff Hamilton and the Chicago Blackhawks decided to have some fun.

Hamilton recorded a hat trick en route to a career-high five points as the Blackhawks posted a 7-5 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes.

Patrick Sharp tallied twice and Rene Bourque added three assists for Chicago, which scored four times in the first 11 1/2 minutes of the game.

"We took a good lead and stuck to our game plan for the first 10 minutes, then got away from it," Blackhawks coach Denis Savard said. "They kept turning it over and we scored."

The Blackhawks (26-33-9) are tied for 12th in the Western Conference, 21 points out of the final playoff spot.

Trailing, 4-0, the Coyotes received tallies from rookie Bill Thomas and Mike Zigomanis to halve the deficit. However, Hamilton scored on a breakaway with 2:02 remaining in the opening period, backhanding a shot past goaltender Mikael Tellqvist to give the Blackhawks a 5-2 advantage.

"It was a fun game and we started off well in the first, getting up 4-0," Hamilton said. "We were chipping it in, pounding them on the forecheck and we got up early."

Hamilton netted a power-play goal with 3:27 left in the second period and gave Chicago a 7-3 cushion with 37 seconds remaining to complete his second career hat trick. The 29-year-old also scored three goals on December 2 at Nashville.

"I definitively have been streaky," Hamilton said. "I think I had only one goal in the last 10 or 12 games. It is nice to get those three tonight."

Nikolai Khabibulin stopped 32 shots for the Blackhawks, who matched a season high with their third straight win.

"We are on a little bit of a roll," Hamilton said. "I guess three games count as a winning streak."

In a rough and tumble affair, the Blackhawks were called for 16 penalties, while the Coyotes were penalized 11 times.

Rookie defenseman David Koci, who was making his NHL debut, bullied his way around the ice, committing seven penalties - including three fighting majors - for 42 minutes.

"David helped us out and played a heck of a game for us," Savard said. "I had a feeling it was going to be one of those games and that is why we brought him up, to be a physical presence for us. He knows his role."

The 6-6, 228-pound bruiser also received a charging major and a double game misconduct.

"I know I'm a tough guy and my job is to protect the stars here," Koci said. "The first shift, Josh Gratton asked me, and we went. I guess I lost that first fight. I always lose my first fight.

"The second time, I hit a guy behind the net and (Gratton) skated to me and said, 'Let's go again.' I think I did a little bit better in that fight."

Chicago came within one goal of its best output of the campaign, reached on Opening Night against the Predators.

Daniel Carcillo scored his first career goal, Mathias Tjarnqvist also tallied and defenseman Derek Morris collected three assists for Phoenix, which has lost five straight and 12 of its last 14.

"We got beat bad," Phoenix captain Shane Doan said. "It was awful."

Tellqvist allowed five goals on 17 shots in the first before being replaced by Curtis Joseph, who made 12 saves over the final two periods.

"I am not disappointed about the effort. I think every guy was working as hard as he can, but we beat ourselves tonight," Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky said. "You win and lose as a team, but we had a couple of guys who didn't have their best games."