Chicago Blackhawks vs. Arizona Coyotes Recap MARCH 10th 2024

Colin Blackwell recorded his first career hat trick and Connor Bedard had two goals and an assist as the Chicago Blackhawks beat the visiting Arizona Coyotes 7-4 on Sunday.

Blackwell entered with five goals in 34 games this season, but helped fuel Chicago’s comeback from two goals down. He capped his career night with an empty-netter.

Meanwhile, Bedard posted his third game with at least three points and Seth Jones had four assists for the Blackhawks, who rode a four-goal, 22-shot second period to beat the Coyotes for the second time in six days — hours after becoming the first team officially eliminated from this season’s playoffs.

Coyotes star Clayton Keller scored twice and ex-Blackhawks player Nick Schmaltz had a goal and two assists. Arizona has allowed 17 goals while losing three of four.

Arizona struck 6:09 into the game when Keller sent a wrister past partially screened Chicago netminder Arvid Soderblom (32 saves). Keller put the Coyotes up 2-0 just 11 seconds into the second period off a nifty pass from Schmaltz.

However, the Blackhawks soon woke up.

Bedard put the puck in off the body of Arizona’s J.J. Moser at 5:28 of the second. Chicago tied it less than two minutes later when Blackwell flipped in the deflected shot of teammate Alex Vlasic.

On a five-on-three power play, Bedard eluded the stick of Arizona’s Josh Brown, then found an opening to beat goaltender Connor Ingram (34 saves) for the tiebreaker with 9:55 left in the second.

However, the Coyotes made it 3-3 with 6:03 left in the middle period when Dylan Guenther converted after the puck took a friendly carrom off the end board.

On the two-man advantage, though, Chicago regained the lead when Bedard sent a pass toward the side of the net for Tyler Johnson to one-time with 2:10 remaining in the second.

Again in the right spot, Blackwell extended Chicago’s lead 33 seconds into the third when he pushed in the rebound of Jones’ shot.

Arizona got within a goal 6:51 into the third when Schmaltz scored on a clearing attempt of his own shot.

However, Ryan Donato restored Chicago’s two-goal lead with 12 minutes left.

–Field Level Media