Mike Smith, Phoenix Coyotes spoil Jonathan Toews debut edge Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 in OT-NHL Playoffs
Chicago was looking to take an easy lead in the 2012 National Hockey League (NHL) Western Conference playoff quarterfinal series with Phoenix with captain Jonathan Toews back on the squad, but Mike Smith played amazing hockey as Coyotes edged Blackhawks,
3-2, in overtime.
Phoenix was working the sold-out home crowd in the Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Arizona on Thursday, April 12, 2012, and took that to their advantage in keeping the momentum going.
Mike Smith showed the world why he would be the x-factor for Coyotes as he blocked 43 shots and only fell short on two despite being outshot compared to his Chicago counterpart, Corey Crawford, who faced 34 attempts.
Taking advantage of the situation, especially when things get tense in overtime, shows that a team is determined to take the win and Phoenix was hard on doing just that.
"You're not going to get many opportunities to play overtime in the playoffs," Coyotes captain, Shane Doan, said. "I'm not saying that's the way you want to go into it, but once you're there, you've got to enjoy it and that's what we did."
Chicago captain, Jonathan Toews, got the first of the night 4:04 into the opener. Blackhawks failed to capitalise on their first power play opportunity as Ray Whitney went out for hooking.
The home team was sort of stunned later in the first period when they lost leading scorer, Radim Vrbata, to an injury after taking a hit. He did not return during the remainder of the game and will most likely, be evaluated the next day.
Phoenix bounced back in round-two as Taylor Pyatt and Antoine Vermette added two straight to take the lead for the home team, sending the crowd into a wild trance seeing their club bounce back in amazing form.
Brent Seabrook levelled it at 2-2 with 15 seconds remaining in regulation during the third but luckily, Phoenix got the last laugh as Martin Hanzal potted the game-winner at 9:29 to take the match and a lead in the crucial series.
"When you're at that moment and score the goal, it's just a great feeling," Hanzal said after getting his first ever overtime game winner in a playoff matchup.
Phoenix Coyotes and Chicago Blackhawks will go head-to-head in game-two of the series on Saturday, April 14.
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