Arizona @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 26, 2019 ) Chicago 0, Arizona 1

The Arizona Coyotes continue to defy expectations, sitting one point behind the first-place Edmonton Oilers in the Pacific Division. The Coyotes entered the weekend tied for the Western Conference lead for most wins away from home and look to continue that success when they wrap up a four-game road trip at the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night.

After posting a pair of two-goal victories at Columbus and red-hot Philadelphia, Arizona was blanked for only the second time this season in a 2-0 setback at Pittsburgh to spoil Phil Kessel's return to the city. The Coyotes have won three of the last four meetings against the Blackhawks, although they were steamrolled 7-1 in their last visit to Chicago. The Blackhawks are coming off a pair of road victories that followed a 1-5-1 stretch, ending Boston's eight-game winning streak in overtime before edging New Jersey 2-1 in a shootout. "Seems like it's been pretty streaky the first quarter of the season, but when we're playing well we're pretty tough to beat," goaltender Corey Crawford told reporters. "We've just got to try and find that game as much as possible."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, NBCS Chicago

ABOUT THE COYOTES (17-10-4): Its strong play on the road notwithstanding, Arizona continues to thrive due to the goaltending tandem of Darcy Kuemper and backup Antti Raanta. Friday's loss to the Penguins was the 13th game in the last 14 in which the Coyotes did not allow more than three regulation goals and it took a fluke bounce in the third period Friday to break the scoreless stalemate. Kuemper, who is second in the league in goals-against average (1.92) and save percentage (.937), takes a five-game point streak into Sunday's start.

ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (12-12-5): Rookie Kirby Dach has been held off the scoresheet for eight games, but he delivered the game-winner in the shootout at New Jersey. "He wants the ball. He wants the goals," coach Jeremy Colliton told reporters of Dach, the No. 3 overall pick in last June's draft. "Those are the type of guys you want to use in those situations because they want to be in that spot, and they are confident and that's what you need to score." Crawford earned his 250th win Friday, just the third Chicago netminder to reach that total.

OVERTIME

1. Blackhawks F Alex DeBrincat has scored in back-to-back contests following a 12-game drought

2. Coyotes F Nick Schmaltz, who has a team-high 20 points, was acquired from Chicago in a trade last season for Fs Dylan Strome and Brendan Perlini.

3. Blackhawks F Patrick Kane has 16 goals and 46 points in 38 meetings versus Arizona.

PREDICTION: Blackhawks 3, Coyotes 2