Mike Smith, who set a career-high and a franchise record for saves in a game with 58 vs. Columbus on Saturday, will start in goal after taking Monday night off. Smith's 58 saves were the most saves in a game by any NHL goalie this season.
Shane Doan's next point will be a significant one. The 40-year-old captain is one goal shy of 400 for his NHL career and one assist away from taking sole possession of first place on the team's all-time assists list. Doan has 553 assists and is tied with Thomas Steen.
Forward Anthony Duclair, who was a healthy scratch on Monday, is expected to be back in the lineup.
The Coyotes and Blackhawks played three games last season and the teams combined to score 29 goals in those games.
With 35 points, Chicago (16-8-3) is sitting atop the Western Conference standings. However, the Blackhawks have lost two games in a row and have scored just 12 goals in their past eight games.
Captain Jonathan Toews, who has missed the past six games because of a back injury, won't play vs. the Coyotes. Neither will goalie Corey Crawford, who is sidelined because of a recent appendectomy.
Scott Darling will start in goal. He has posted a 4-2-1 record, a .912 save percentage, and a 2.71 goals-against average this season.
Forward Patrick Kane leads the Blackhawks and ranks ninth in the NHL with 26 points. He will enter the game with a three-game point streak.
Chicago is 9-1-2 vs. the Coyotes in the past 12 games between the teams, and 3-0-3 in the past six games played vs. Arizona at United Center.
OFFICIAL GAME NOTES
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