Blackhawks Deliver Blow to Coyotes

Chicago goaltender Jocelyn Thibault took a knee in the head. The Phoenix Coyotes took a blow to their pride.

Thibault came out better, stopping 34 shots for his 14th career shutout as the Blackhawks kept their slim playoff hopes alive and sent Phoenix deeper into a tailspin, 3-0, Tuesday night at Phoenix.

The Blackhawks are barely alive in the Western Conference playoff scenario, but they looked robust in winning the season series against a team that once had the best record in the NHL.

“We’re playing a little bit like St. Louis is playing now, or like Dallas is playing, and I think that’s something that is making us successful,” Thibault said. “There’s no secret why we’re winning now. We’re just playing better in our end.”

Dean McAmmond had a goal and an assist, and goals by Alexei Zhamnov and Josef Marha helped run Chicago’s unbeaten streak to six games (5-0-1).

The Coyotes, sixth in the West, couldn’t get anything going despite the return of captain Keith Tkachuk, who sat 16 games to rest a sprained ankle.

They lost for the fourth consecutive game, counting an overtime loss to Nashville on Friday, and the seventh time in nine games.

Pittsburgh 8, New York Islanders 2--Tyler Wright and Jaromir Jagr each scored twice and the Penguins broke open a close game with four goals in a 2:07 span in a drubbing of the Islanders at Uniondale, N.Y.

Wright also had two assists, Jagr one and Pat Falloon three.

Ottawa 7, Atlanta 1--Shawn McEachern and Andreas Dackell each had two goals and an assist and goalie Tom Barrasso made 23 saves at Kanata, Canada, and the Senators scored a franchise-record six goals in the first period.

Barrasso, acquired from Pittsburgh last week, lost to Vancouver, 6-1, Saturday in his first game for the Senators.

Philadelphia 2, Nashville 0--Rookie Simon Gagne continued his hot streak with a goal and an assist and rookie Brian Boucher made 27 saves for the Flyers at Nashville. Gagne set up John LeClair’s power-play goal in the second period and then scored himself 3:24 later.

Boston 4, Tampa Bay 0--Brian Rolston, acquired earlier this month in the trade that sent Ray Bourque to Colorado, had a goal and an assist and Sergei Samsonov added three assists as the Bruins beat the Lightning at Boston.

Florida 4, New York Rangers 3--Mike Sillinger scored twice, including the game-winner in the third period at New York, as the Panthers rallied to deal another blow to the Rangers’ dwindling playoff hopes.

Carolina 5, New Jersey 0--Arturs Irbe made 22 saves and defenseman Sean Hill had two goals and an assist for the Hurricanes at East Rutherford, N.J. The loss matched the Devils’ worst of the season.