Chicago @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 8, 2019 ) Arizona 4, Chicago 3

The first-place Arizona Coyotes try for their second victory in five days over Chicago when they host the Blackhawks on Thursday. Arizona, which is tied with Edmonton atop the Pacific Division, defeated Chicago 4-3 on Dec. 8 with leading goal scorer Conor Garland providing the deciding tally in the shootout and tries to bounce back from a 5-2 loss to Calgary on Tuesday that started a three-game homestand.

The Coyotes are spinning their wheels at 3-3-1 over their last seven games and coach Rick Tocchet isn't pleased. "We need some guys to step up here,'' Tocchet told reporters. "You can't hide. We've got to make sure guys are ready to play. I've got to figure it out. It's on me that some guys weren't ready to play." Chicago began a three-game road trip with a 5-1 loss at Vegas on Tuesday and is last in the Central Division after going 3-6-2 in its past 11 contests. "Not happy with our performance. I thought we got worn down as the game went on,'' Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton told reporters Tuesday. "... We have got to regroup, get some rest tomorrow, and have a better effort."

TV: 9 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, FS Arizona

ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (12-13-6): Patrick Kane paces the club with 14 goals and 36 points but hasn't scored in five games since his November-long point streak ended, and owns three assists during that span. Rookie left wing Dominik Kubalik joined Alex DeBrincat and Brandon Saad with eight goals apiece after scoring Tuesday for the second straight game. Corey Crawford (16 starts) and Robin Lehner (15) continue to share the goaltending duties with Lehner's .929 save percentage among the league's best.

ABOUT THE COYOTES (18-11-4): Darcy Kuemper (13-6-2, 1.96 goals-against average, .932 SP) is having a Vezina Trophy type season as he backbones the second-stingiest defense in the league. Garland (12 goals) has scored twice in the last four contests after a seven-game drought. Phil Kessel has three of his seven goals in the last four games but is a minus-4 over the past three contests, dropping him to a team-worst minus-18.

OVERTIME

1. Chicago has scored a power-play goal in four straight games (4-for-11) but the penalty-killing unit is 8-for-12 in its past three contests.

2. Arizona is 3-for-7 on the power play in its last two games with Kessel scoring his team-leading sixth with the man advantage in Tuesday's loss.

3. Blackhawks D Calvin de Haan left Tuesday's game with a shoulder injury with Colliton telling reporters it is "not good,'' while fellow blueliner Olli Maatta has missed the past four contests because of illness.

PREDICTION: Coyotes 3, Blackhawks 2