(3) Coyotes - (6) Blackhawks preview - 04-09-12
(3) Coyotes vs. (6) Blackhawks
Coyotes Leading Regular Season Scorer: Ray Whitney, 77 points (24 goals, 53 assists).
Blackhawks Leading Regular Season Scorer: Marian Hossa, 77 points (29 goals, 48 assists).
Coyotes Expected Starting Goaltender: Mike Smith (right), 38-18-10, 2.21 GAA, .930 SV%.
Blackhawks Expected Starting Goaltender: Corey Crawford, 30-17-7, 2.72 GAA, .903 SV%.
Coyotes Regular Season Statistics
Blackhawks Regular Season Statistics
Coyotes Injuries: The Coyotes are reporting no injuries.
Blackhawks Injuries: Center Dave Bolland ("upper body") and left winger Andrew Brunette (right foot) are probable. Center Jonathan Toews (concussion) is day to day. Defenseman Steve Montador (concussion) is out indefinitely. Left winger Daniel Carcillo (knee) is on injured reserve.
Coyotes with Stanley Cup bling: Ray Whitney, left winger.
Blackhawks with Stanley Cup bling: Bryan Bickell, left winger; Dave Bolland, C; Niklas Hjalmarsson, D; Marian Hossa (below), RW; Patrick Kane, C; Duncan Keith, D; Sean O'Donnell, D; Brent Seabrook, D; Patrick Sharp, LW; Jonathan Toews, C.
Something worthwhile about the Coyotes: The Coyotes' success rate of 13.6 on the power play this regular season was the worst of any team which qualified for the postseason.
Something worthwhile about the Blackhawks: The Blackhawks' regular season goals against average of 2.88 was the higest of any Western Conference playoff team.
Something useless about the Coyotes that is vaguely connected to the Penguins: Former Penguins right winger Rick Tocchet holds the Coyotes' record for most consecutive postseason games with a goal. He scored in five consecutive games, April 22-30, 1998.
Something useless about the Blackhawks that is vaguely connected to the Penguins: The Blackhawks leader in career postseason shutouts is former Penguins general manager Tony Esposito with five.
Former Penguins on the Coyotes: Paul Bissonnette, LW; Michal Rozsival, D; Dave Tippett, head coach.
Former Penguins on the Blackhawks: Marc Bergevin, assistant general manager; Dennis Bonvie, professional scout; Scotty Bowman, senior advisor; Daniel Carcillo, LW (Carcillo was a minor leaguer with the Penguins but never played with the NHL team); Marian Hossa, RW; Norm MacIver, director - player personnel.
Who needs to be the difference for the Coyotes: Keith Yandle, Michal Roszival, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Adrian Aucoin, Rostislav Klesla, Derek Morris. Like any team coached by Tippett, the Coyotes rely on defense. Phoenix has given a boost to the numbers of Smith and his predecessor, Ilya Bryzgalov, by playing a stiffling brand of defense. The blue line will need to make life difficult for the Blackhawks' strong group of forwards.
Who needs to be the difference for the Blackhawks: Kane, Sharp and Hossa. With Toews' health questionable, the Blackhawks need to lead on their other star forwards for offense and leadership. Unless this trio steps up, the Blackhawks will have a short spring.
Best Jets/Coyotes YouTube Video We Could Find: Jets defenseman Dave Ellett scoring a winning power-play goal in Game 4 of a 4-3 double overtime win against the Oilers in a 1990 Smythe Division final:
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Best Blackhawks YouTube Video We Could Find: Blackhawks left winger Martin Havlat's overtime goal in a 3-2 win against the Flames in Game 1 of 2009 Western Conference quarterfinal series:
EN Prediction: Toews health will dictate a lot in this series. If he's available, Chicago is a much better team. If not, they're missing an irreplaceable player who impacts so many aspects of their games. Additionally, Phoenix has a much more stable situation in net with Smith. Coyotes 4-1.
(Photos: Smith-Christian Petersen/Getty Images; Hossa-Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)