Coyotes 4 - 1 Blackhawks
Final
  for this game

Smith sharp again as Coyotes down Blackhawks

Nov 30, 2011 - 6:34 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Mike Smith stopped 24 shots and came within 43 seconds of his second consecutive shutout, as Phoenix cruised to a 4-1 win over Chicago.

Smith, who blanked Dallas on Saturday, held the Blackhawks off the board until Patrick Sharp scored in the waning moments of regulation.

Ray Whitney had a goal and two assists, while Daymond Langkow, Shane Doan and Radim Vrbata also scored for the Coyotes, winners of two in a row.

Corey Crawford stopped 17-of-21 shots and Ray Emery made three saves in relief for the Blackhawks, who appeared sluggish in their first game back from a 3-3-0 road trip.

"They played a perfect checking game and frustrated us," said Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville. "It wasn't pretty."

A fluid attack put the Coyotes on top late in the opening period. Doan began play from the blue line, centering to Whitney, whose touch pass found Langkow for a one-time backhand.

Midway through the second, Mikkel Boedker dropped a pass to Doan, who fired a slap shot from the right point for a 2-0 advantage.

Just 1:12 into the final period, Brent Seabrook lost possession behind his own net. Vrbata capitalized, scooping the loose puck and beating Crawford with a backhand.

Minutes later, Martin Hanzal's pass from behind the net found a wide-open Whitney, who buried a snap shot for a 4-0 lead.

Sharp scored off a centering pass from Patrick Kane with under a minute remaining, denying Smith his 14th career shutout.

"I think sometimes you come back home and you want to put on too much of a show for the fans," said Kane.

Game Notes

The Coyotes improved to 7-3-1 on the road this season...This was the second of four meetings between the teams this season. The Blackhawks won the initial matchup, 5-2...Langkow had two assists in Saturday's win over Dallas after returning from an extended absence due to the death of his mother.






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