Jake McCabe scored midway through the second period and Tyler Johnson added an empty-netter to back a 22-save shutout from Alex Stalock as the host Chicago Blackhawks beat the Arizona Coyotes 2-0 on Friday night.
Chicago snapped a five-game losing streak while prevailing on home ice for the first time since Dec. 23, a win that ended an eight-game slide.
The Blackhawks had been outscored 9-3 in the first two games of a seven-game homestand, but they clamped down against the Coyotes, whose road winless streak grew to 12 games.
McCabe’s goal was the lone offense the Blackhawks needed. At the 11:55 mark of the second, he took a pass from Seth Jones, made a move toward the slot and blasted a slap shot past Coyotes goaltender Connor Ingram.
Max Domi also assisted on the play, giving him a goal and four assists in his past five home games. Domi has six points, including four assists, in his past three games against Arizona, the club that drafted him 12th overall in 2013.
The Coyotes had their chances early in the game, missing the net on a breakaway before hitting the post on a tipped shot.
The Blackhawks sealed the result with Johnson’s empty-net goal with 46 seconds to play.
Ingram stopped 30 of 31 shots. Lawson Crouse and Shayne Gostisbehere led the Coyotes with three shots apiece.
Chicago wasn’t whistled for a penalty until midway through the third period, playing cleanly in front of Stalock, who had his first shutout of the season and 10th of his career.
Chicago continued its recent run of dominance against Arizona, moving to 4-1-1 in the past six games against its new division foe. The Coyotes shifted to the Central following realignment before last season.
Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane missed the game with a lower-body injury, but he said Friday morning his ailment wasn’t serious, and he feels pain only “in certain situations.”
–Field Level Media
