The Phoenix Coyotes won their division for the first time ever, and against the Chicago Blackhawks in Round 1 of the 2012 NHL playoffs, they’ll try to win a series for the first time as well.
Coyotes Vs. Blackhawks, Game 6: Smith, Game Plan Keys To Phoenix’s First Series Win

PresswireIt was a long time coming. For the first time since moving to Phoenix in 1996, there is finally some postseason celebrating in the desert.
Smith established his stellar play when he faced 95 shots in the first two games of the series, and Phoenix came away with a split. The goalie didn’t see any fewer than 32 shots on goal in any of the six contests, and averaged more than 40 per night.
Read Article >ANIMATED: Pint-Sized Coyotes Fan Reactions Are The Best Reactions
Note to camera people covering the NHL playoffs: show more indignant children!
Let’s freeze-frame that kid.
Read Article >Raffi Torres Suspended, Termed Repeat Offender By NHL
Over the past 13 months Torres has been suspended by the NHL twice for flagrant hits.
Stick with SBNation.com for full Coyotes vs. Blackhawks series coverage. For more from the Phoenix perspective, head over to the Five For Howling. For more on the Blackhawks, check out Second City Hockey.
Read Article >NHL Playoffs 2012, Blackhawks Vs. Coyotes Game 4: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

Getty ImagesTorres has been suspended indefinitely for his huge hit on Hossa, which caused the Blackhawks’ winger to be briefly hospitalized. Shaw will be serving the second game of his three-game suspension in Game 4 on Thursday.
No. 3 Phoenix Coyotes at No. 6 Chicago Blackhawks
8 p.m. ET Thursday -- Game 4, Western Conference Quarterfinals | Coyotes Lead 2-1
National TV: TSN, CNBC, RDS2 | Local TV: Fox Sports Arizona Plus, CSN Chicago
Read Article >NHL Playoff Schedule 2012: Game 4s Dominate Thursday Slate

Getty ImagesFour Game 4s dot the Thursday night schedule in the 2012 NHL Playoffs. And the early window will be crowded, with pucks dropping in three cities within an hour of each other.
No. 3 Florida Panthers at No. 6 New Jersey Devils
7 p.m. ET -- Game 4, Eastern Conference Quarterfinals | Panthers lead, 2-1
National TV: NHL Network US, TSN2, RDSI | Local TV: FS Florida, MSG+
Read Article >Marian Hossa Injury: Blackhawks Forward Ruled Out For Game 4 Vs. Coyotes
Torres, meanwhile, will miss Game 4 as well. He could miss much more time after being suspended indefinitely by the league for the hit, but that will be decided at an in-person hearing on Friday in New York City.
Stick with SBNation.com for full Coyotes vs. Blackhawks series coverage. For more from the Phoenix perspective, head over to the Five For Howling. For more on the Blackhawks, check out Second City Hockey.
Read Article >Raffi Torres Suspended Indefinitely Pending NHL Hearing For Marian Hossa Hit
Video: Raffi Torres’ hit on Marian Hossa
Hossa was hospitalized following the hit, which occurred during the first period. It was a late hit in which Torres targeted Hossa’s head while leaving his feet -- the illegal trifecta, one might say.
Read Article >Coyotes Vs. Blackhawks, Game 3: Mike Smith, Coyotes Working Overtime In Search Of First Series Win

Getty ImagesSmith stopped 35 of the 37 Chicago shots he faced, and has now made 124 saves on the 132 Blackhawks shots for an impressive .939 save percentage in the series.
On Tuesday, Smith was at his best over the course of the final two periods of regulation and the overtime, when Phoenix was outshot by a 27-18.
Read Article >Marian Hossa Injury: Blackhawks Forward Briefly Hospitalized After Brutal Hit
The Blackhawks released a statement Tuesday evening:
Torres wasn’t penalized on the play, but the NHL may still levy punishment after reviewing the play.
Read Article >Marian Hossa Injury: Blackhawks Forward Removed On Stretcher After Raffi Torres Hit

Getty ImagesHossa was taken off on a stretcher, as we mentioned, and obviously will not return to the game on Tuesday evening. Amazingly, Torres wasn’t penalized for the hit, despite the fact that it violates about 19 different rules. (We’re exaggerating, but you get the point.) Hossa did not have the puck -- in fact, the puck was quite a ways away -- while Torres both left his feet and targeted Hossa’s head. Hossa’s head snapped backwards and appeared to bounce off the ice as well during impact.
Stick with SBNation.com for full Coyotes vs. Blackhawks series coverage. For more from the Phoenix perspective, head over to the Five For Howling. For more on the Blackhawks, check out Second City Hockey.
Read Article >Mike Smith Injury Update: Coyotes Goalie Will Play Game 3 Vs. Blackhawks
Phoenix head coach Dave Tippett said that Smith was “100 percent” following the game, but fell back on a vaguer statement that left his goaltender’s status in doubt. Smith did not practice Monday, but did take part in the team’s morning skate before the game Tuesday.
For more on Smith and the Coyotes, head over to the SB Nation blog Five For Howling. For more on the Blackhawks, check out Second City Hockey.
Read Article >Andrew Shaw Suspended 3 Games For Mike Smith Hit
Smith is reportedly a game-time decision for Game 3 on Tuesday night at United Center in Chicago, despite the fact that he remained in Game 2 until its conclusion.
Read Article >NHL Playoff Schedule 2012: Panthers-Devils, Coyotes-Blackhawks Game 3s Featured

Getty ImagesThere won’t be an elimination game in Tuesday night’s slate, but the last two Game 3s of the quarterfinals in the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs will finally be played. And the No. 6 seeds in the Eastern and Western Conferences could take control of their respective matchups in these games.
In Detroit, the Red Wings had a chance to back up their road split in Nashville with a home win against the Predators on Sunday. Nashville prevailed 3-2, and the Preds will have a chance to take a 3-1 series lead back to Tennessee with a win in Tuesday’s Game 4.
Read Article >Coyotes Vs. Blackhawks, NHL Playoffs 2012 Game 2: Final Score, Bryan Bickell Stars In Chicago Win
You can find all of our coverage from this game in our Coyotes Vs. Blackhawks Game 2 StoryStream. For more on the Coyotes, check in with Five For Howling and SB Nation Arizona. For more on the Blackhawks, check in with Second City Hockey and SB Nation Chicago.
Read Article >Mike Smith Hit By Andrew Shaw: Goalie Remains In Game, Assailant Ejected
I’m getting a headache just watching it, but apparently Smith doesn’t. He stayed in the game after just a few minutes of rest and attention from the trainers. Let’s take a guess at how that conversation may have gone:
TRAINER: That didn’t look good, Smitty. You alright?
Read Article >NHL Playoffs 2012, Coyotes Vs. Blackhawks Game 2: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

Getty ImagesThings looked bleak for the Coyotes for a few minutes Saturday, after conceding a game-tying goal to Chicago’s Brent Seabrook with under 15 seconds left. But things came together in overtime: a goal by Martin Hanzal - his first in 24 games - in overtime gave Phoenix the 1-0 advantage as they seek their first-ever victory in a playoff series. The Blackhawks didn’t finish the opportunity to steal a win, but Chicago will have an opportunity to get even with a victory Saturday night.
No. 6 Chicago Blackhawks at No. 3 Phoenix Coyotes
10 p.m. ET Saturday -- Game 2, Western Conference Quarterfinals | Coyotes lead, 1-0
National TV: NBC Sports Network, TSN | Local TV: CSN Chicago
Read Article >Blackhawks Vs. Coyotes, Game 1: Mike Smith Providing Answers To Phoenix’s Playoff Questions

PresswireIt remained to be seen if Phoenix’s decision to go with Smith as their main man was a wise one or if it was just another step towards mediocrity for the embattled franchise.
Smith was a perfect 11-0-0 with a 1.42 goals-against average and .952 save percentage during the month of February, deservedly earning the NHL’s First Star of the Month honors.
Read Article >Coyotes Vs. Blackhawks, NHL Playoffs 2012 Game 1: Martin Hanzal Wins It In Overtime
Stick with SBNation.com for full series coverage. For more on the Coyotes, check in with Five For Howling and SB Nation Arizona. For more on the Blackhawks, check in with Second City Hockey and SB Nation Chicago.
Read Article >Jonathan Toews Set To Return From Concussion For Blackhawks Vs. Coyotes Game 1
Toews announced the news to the media at Jobing.com Arena in Phoenix.
Stick with SBNation.com for full coverage of Blackhawks vs. Coyotes. For more from the Chicago perspective, check in with Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey, and for more from the Phoenix perspective, check in with Coyotes blog Five For Howling.
Read Article >NHL Playoffs 2012, Coyotes Vs. Blackhawks Game 1: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

Getty ImagesNo. 7 Chicago Blackhawks at No. 3 Phoenix Coyotes
10 p.m. ET Thursday -- Game 1, Western Conference Quarterfinals | Series tied, 0-0
National TV: NBC Sports Network, TSN | Local TV: CSN Chicago, FS Arizona+
For more on the Coyotes, check in with Five For Howling and SB Nation Arizona. For more on the Blackhawks, check in with Second City Hockey and SB Nation Chicago.
Read Article >Stanley Cup Playoffs 2012, Coyotes Vs. Blackhawks Preview: Mike Smith, Jonathan Toews Should Dictate Series Outcome

Getty ImagesThe Coyotes were almost equally good on the road as they were at home -- 50 home points, 47 away -- but Chicago had a marked difference between playing at the United Center (27-8-6 for 60 points) and hitting the road (18-18-5 for just 41 points). Phoenix could very well take full advantage of that fact with four of the seven games being played in the Arizona desert. After the Blackhawks won the first meeting of the year, Phoenix took the last three matchups.
OFFENSE
Read Article >NHL Playoffs 2012: Phoenix Coyotes Shoot For First-Ever Series Win (And More)

Getty ImagesWe asked Travis Hair of Coyotes blog Five For Howling to answer a few questions about the team as they prepare for the postseason.
1) What’s the biggest reason you have confidence in the Coyotes heading into the postseason?
Read Article >NHL Playoffs 2012: Chicago Blackhawks Enter Postseason With Jonathan Toews’ Status Looming


SAN JOSE, CA - FEBRUARY 10: Jonathan Toews #19 of the Chicago Blackhawks looks on against the San Jose Sharks at HP Pavilion at San Jose on February 10, 2012 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) Getty Images1) What’s the biggest reason you have confidence in the Blackhawks heading into the postseason?
Despite the Hawks earlier struggles, they seem to have found their footing as a team. The team isn’t far removed from their 9-game skid but they’ve found a way to finish off the season on a somewhat high note. In their last 20 games, they managed to grab 28 points.
Read Article >NHL Playoffs 2012, Phoenix Coyotes Vs. Chicago Blackhawks: Game Schedule, TV Coverage And More

Getty ImagesFor more on the Coyotes, check in with Five For Howling and SB Nation Arizona. For more on the Blackhawks, check in with Second City Hockey and SB Nation Chicago.
Read Article >Jonathan Toews Injury: Blackhawks Forward Hopes For Game 1 Return


CHICAGO, IL - FEBRUARY 19: Jonathan Toews #19 of the Chicago Blackhawks looks to pass against the St. Louis Blues at the United Center on February 19, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) Getty ImagesFor more on the Blackhawks, check in with Second City Hockey and SB Nation Chicago.
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