The Phoenix Coyotes sit 20 minutes away from their first playoff series victory, the first since moving to Arizona from Winnipeg and the first as an NHL franchise, Phoenix or Manitoba, in 25 years.
They're hoping to avoid overtime for a fifth consecutive playoff game. After two periods of play, they've allowed just one second-period goal in the postseason. They have been good in one-goal games this season and even better at holding onto leads after two periods.
And now it comes down to the third and final period.
Phoenix took the lead at 17:14 of the second, their fourth line making it happen. Gilbert Brule, a center claimed off waivers in January, scored on a 3-on-1 breakaway, the assist from Marc-Antoine Pouliot -- who made his playoff debut for Phoenix in Game 4.
Goaltender Mike Smith started the whole sequence and was credited with an assist.
Defenseman Michal Rozsival had his shot stopped by the Blackhawks' Corey Crawford at 5:01 of the period. Twenty-two seconds later, the Coyotes went on the power play after a slashing penalty, but didn't score.
The Coyotes will start the third period on a power play after Viktor Stalberg was whistled for his third penalty of the game, two minutes for tripping, with 25 seconds left in the second period. So Phoenix will have 1:35 of an advantage to start the final period.
Can they hang on and win a series not many outside of the Valley expected them to take?