The Chicago Blackhawks came out firing on all cylinders, but the Phoenix Coyotes managed to gather themselves and head to the first intermission with a scoreless tie.
Shane Doan took an interference penalty at 2:12 of the first period after he hit Patrick Kane late in the slot. This forced the Coyotes penalty kill unit to get some early work. The unit killed off the penalty effectively like they have all postseason.
The Coyotes penalty kill has only given up only one goal on 10 Chicago man-advantage opportunities this series.
A strange situation developed after Paul Bissonnette dropped the gloves with Brandon Bollig at center-ice. Bissonnette's jersey came fully off during the end of the altercation and the Coyotes' fourth liner was assessed a five minute fighting major, as well as a game misconduct for not being properly "tied down."
NHL rule 46.13, which deals with jerseys being "tied down" reads:
A player who engages in a fight and whose jersey is not properly "tied-down" (jersey properly fastened to pants), and who loses his jersey (completely off his torso) in that altercation, shall receive a game misconduct penalty. If the player loses his jersey despite the tie down remaining intact and attached to the pants, the game misconduct is not applicable, however this must be reported to the League office so that the jersey and the tie down can be examined.
The Coyotes best chances of the period came off the sticks of Keith Yandle and Adrian Aucoin.
Yandle fired a shot from the point through a few screens, and the puck rang off the post. Aucoin's chance came on an open slapper from the slot and the rebound just missed the stick of Daymond Langkow.
Mike Smith stopped 11 shots in the first period, while the Coyotes managed to get only five pucks on Corey Crawford at the other end. The Coyotes' defense did their part to help out Smith though, blocking nine shots in the first period.
Martin Hanzal, Lauri Korpikoski and Raffi Torres all are out for Game 4.