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Coyotes blank Blackhawks

Feb 8, 2014 - 6:39 AM Glendale, AZ (SportsNetwork.com) - Mike Smith stopped 30 shots for his second shutout of the season to lead the Phoenix Coyotes in a 2-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday.

Keith Yandle and Radim Vrbata each scored for the Coyotes, who went 3-2-0 on a five-game homestand.

"It's go-time and you need to bring your 'A' game when you play against a team like that," said Smith. "It just gives you that much more motivation and it's nice to see us pull this one here."

Corey Crawford gave up both goals on 26 shots for the Blackhawks, who had a two-game winning streak snapped to go into the Olympic break.

"We liked what we've accomplished and where we've put ourselves going into the break," said Chicago head coach Joel Quenneville. "For the guys going over there, we're rooting for them, and the guys that are breaking, you know, get yourself ready."

On the man advantage, the Coyotes struck 1:09 into the game as Yandle blasted a big one-timer from the right point for his seventh goal of the season.

Skating on a 5-on-3 after penalties to Brandon Saad and Michal Rozsival at 17:46 of the second, the Coyotes were able to make it a 2-0 game.

Holding the puck at the low right side, Mike Ribeiro sent a pass to the slot where Vrbata was able to wrist it in with 1:31 to play in the second.

Smith was busy in the second period, turning away 14 shots before stopping all nine shots he faced in the final frame, including a tough stop on a tip from Ben Smith in the final seconds to polish off his 26th career shutout.

It was the first time the Blackhawks lost to a Pacific Division foe in regulation this season, going 14-0-6 coming into the game.

Game Notes

Phoenix plays in Dallas on Saturday ... Chicago plays in New York against the Rangers when it resumes play on Feb. 27 ... Chicago won the previous two games against Phoenix this season ... It was the first time Chicago was blanked since a 4-0 loss in Los Angeles on Feb. 25, 2012.