'Yotes Notes: Tocchet Wants Team to Better Handle Pressure

CHICAGO --Playing their third road game in four nights, the Coyotes hung with the Chicago Blackhawks for 55 minutes on Sunday at United Center.
The hosts, however, seized control of the game by scoring twice within the last five minutes and extended their winning streak over Arizona to eight games.

"We've got to learn how to play under pressure," Head Coach Rick Tocchet said. "There's been too many games we've lost with five minutes left. We have to correct that. I guess I've got to find a better way of coaching that last five minutes. It's disheartening because it's happened too many times this year."

Tied 1-1, Artem Anisimov beat Coyotes goalie Scott Wedgewood with a shot at 15:13 of the third period, just a few moments after Patrick Kane bumped Wedgewood into his net. Wedgewood said the collision with Kane, not called by the officials, did not factor into Anisimov's goal.
"I just readjusted my gear a little bit," Wedgewood said. "I had more than enough time. Obviously, I would have liked to have gained a little more ice on that rush."
Nick Schmaltz added an insurance goal 1:45 later to spoil the finale of a three-game trip for Arizona.
"I think both goalies were playing well, both teams were playing well," said Wedgewood, who stopped 34 of 37 shots. "Just minor mistakes ... caused us to start chasing, and then we had to take chances to kind of get back in the game and it kind of opened it up and became more of their style, their freedom to play pond hockey."

• The Coyotes played Saturday night at Columbus. Asked if he thought fatigue played a role in the team's third-period collapse, Wedgewood said no.
"Both teams had 30-plus shots," Wedgewood said. "We were right in it. There's no question the effort was there. But the pressure kind of came and a couple mistakes ended up in the back of our net. Unfortunately, that's kind of the way the ball is rolling right now."

• Anthony Duclair scored Arizona's lone goal from in front of the net on a backdoor play the Coyotes discussed before the game. Alex Goligoski set up the goal with a nice pass to Duclair from the right corner. The goal was Duclair's seventh of the season and his first since he notched a hat trick vs. Ottawa on Nov. 18.
• Christian Fischer skated 14:34 in his first game at United Center as an NHL player. About 60 of Fischer's friends and family members attended the game, which was played 40 miles from his hometown of Wayne, Ill. Fischer took one shot on goal and delivered one hit.

• Zac Rinaldo led all players with six hits.
• The Coyotes, who have played an NHL-high 21 road games, will play their next five games at home starting Thursday vs. Tampa Bay. It will be a welcome change for a team that has already completed more than half of its road schedule within the first 66 days of the season.
"The five games at home is going to be really good," Goligoski said. "It has been quite the grind. So, we're going to get a few days (between games) and some normal practice work and some time at home. I'm excited to see what this team can do when we're fresh."