The Chicago Blackhawks beat the Arizona Coyotes last week to snap the longest road losing streak in franchise history at 22 games.
Looking for a little payback, the Coyotes will eye a season-high third straight road victory when they rematch with the Blackhawks on Sunday evening in Chicago.
On Tuesday, Chicago posted a 5-2 victory at Arizona to halt its historically brutal 0-21-1 road rut, with the team’s most recent win away from home a 5-3 victory at the Tampa Bay Lightning on Nov. 9.
The Tuesday defeat kept the Coyotes from a third straight win, but after falling 5-2 to the Minnesota Wild two nights later, they regrouped with Friday’s 4-0 triumph over the Detroit Red Wings.
Against Detroit, Nick Bjugstad had a goal and an assist, rookie Logan Cooley scored his 11th goal of the season, and Connor Ingram made 28 saves for his sixth shutout, which tied him for the most in the NHL.
“They were focused on the task,” Arizona coach Andre Tourigny said. “They were not shaky, I will say, to be honest, probably relieved, too.”
One night after the birth of his third daughter, Bjugstad notched his 300th point Friday. He has seven points in his past nine games.
“He’s such a great guy,” Tourigny said. “He’s such a good player. He’s an underrated player, in my opinion.”
Now, the Coyotes will begin a three-game stretch on the road, where they have a chance to win three in a row for the first time since last season’s four-game run away from home that spanned October-November 2022.
Arizona also scored five goals apiece in winning their previous two road contests at the Ottawa Senators and Washington Capitals early this month.
Goaltender Karel Vejmelka has stopped 58 of 63 shots while in net for the Coyotes’ past two road games. Ingram, though, has a 3.61 goals-against average during his current 0-5-3 road losing streak.
Ingram made 27 saves and Bjugstad scored Tuesday against the Blackhawks, who snapped a three-game series losing streak to the Coyotes. Chicago, which recorded a season-high four power-play goals Tuesday, has also won two straight at home vs. Arizona.
The Blackhawks, though, were unable to build on their Tuesday win over the Coyotes. Washington used three first-period goals during a 4-1 home win over Chicago on Saturday.
Tyler Johnson, who had three assists against Arizona, scored the lone goal Saturday for the Blackhawks, who are mired in a 2-13-3 stretch. They’re just 1-6-3 at home during that rut.
“We’ve just got to really take care of the puck, take care of our turnovers, and playing defense first, and for a full 60,” said Johnson, who has 13 goals this season.
“We’ve got to keep plugging away, keep going.”
Chicago’s Petr Mrazek stopped 22 of 26 shots Saturday and has a 4.17 goals-against average during his current 0-4-2 rut. However, teammate Arvid Soderblom (3.88 GAA), who made 37 saves against the Coyotes to snap a 13-start losing streak, could start on Sunday.
Chicago star rookie Connor Bedard was held without a point Saturday after posting two assists vs. Arizona. He has just two points in the past five home games.
–Field Level Media
