Chicago @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 11, 2019 ) Arizona 1, Chicago 7

The Arizona Coyotes enjoyed a sizzling 10-2-0 stretch to entertain the notion of securing their first playoff appearance since 2011-12, only to lose five in a row (0-3-2) to fall back on wrong side of the postseason picture. The Coyotes bid to get back on track on Tuesday when they host the Chicago Blackhawks, who posted a 7-1 shellacking of Arizona on March 11.

The Coyotes have struggled to ignite their sputtering offense, as the club mustered just four goals during the first three contests of their four-game road trip before being shut out for the seventh time this season on Sunday. "This hurts," Arizona coach Rick Tocchet said after the 2-0 setback to the New York Islanders. "... I thought we played a good game (Sunday), we're just having a tough time scoring right now." While the Coyotes reside two points out of the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference and play four of their last six contests at home, the Blackhawks are five back despite posting a 17-8-1 mark in their last 26 heading into the opener of a three-game road trip. "It's important to keep playing. Keep playing, maintain a high level, and this is a team that can go on a run and win a bunch in a row," Chicago coach Jeremy Colliton said.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), FS Arizona

ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (33-32-10): Two-time Norris Trophy recipient Duncan Keith became the 48th defenseman in NHL history over the age of 35 to score a regular-season overtime goal when he tallied 1:23 into the extra session of Sunday's 2-1 win over Colorado. "It's the biggest game of the year. Every game you could say, probably, biggest game of the year from here on out. We've been saying that for a while and that showed, I think, in our desperation, our management with the puck and guys competing," said Keith, who has six goals this season and 98 in his career. Former Coyote Brendan Perlini started March off strong with eight goals in his first seven games -- including notching his first career hat trick in the rout of Arizona -- before being held off the scoresheet in each of the last four contests.

ABOUT THE COYOTES (36-33-7): Chicago native Vinnie Hinostroza scored twice in the first encounter versus his former team in Arizona's 4-1 win on Oct. 18. The 24-year-old has been held off the scoresheet in five straight games since posting his first career hat trick in a 6-1 romp over Anaheim on March 14. Clayton Keller, who leads the team in assists (32) and points (46), has just one and two, respectively, in his last eight contests.

OVERTIME

1. Chicago RW Patrick Kane has just one of his club-best 41 goals in his last 11 games.

2. Arizona RW Richard Panik has just two goals in his last 17 contests, although one came against a Blackhawks team with which he spent parts of three seasons.

3. Chicago C Dylan Strome will play in his 100th career game against the team that selected him with the third overall pick of the 2015 NHL Draft.

PREDICTION: Coyotes 3, Blackhawks 1