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Blackhawks return home tonight against Arizona

CHICAGO Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane knows that he
and his teammates need to ignite a sleepy offense.

But Kane doesn't want to waste too much energy worrying about
Chicago's recent struggles. The Blackhawks have scored zero or one
goals in five of their last eight games.

"Sometimes, you think too much about creating offense, and that
works to your disadvantage," said Kane, who leads the team with 26
points in 27 games. "I think (we need to) play a little bit simpler
of a game, myself included. ... That's the best way to get scoring
chances and get shots in this league is try to get it back to the
point, get to the net, and hopefully get some screens."

The Blackhawks (16-8-3) will try to return to the basics when they
host the Arizona Coyotes (8-12-4) tonight. The game marks
the first of three meetings this season between the teams.

Chicago is hoping to avoid its first three-game losing streak of
the season. Depleted by injuries to captain Jonathan Toews (upper
body) and goaltender Corey Crawford (appendectomy), the Blackhawks
have dropped back-to-back games against Philadelphia and Winnipeg.

Crawford will remain sidelined for at least a couple weeks, and the
timetable for Toews' return is uncertain. Neither player will be on
the ice to face the Coyotes, but teammates refuse to use their
absence as an excuse for recent struggles.

"It's a team game," Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith said. "I
think we just weren't good enough the last couple games."

Arizona also has struggled, albeit without significant injuries.
The Coyotes are winless in their past four games (0-2-2) and will
play on short rest after a 4-1 loss at Columbus on Monday night.

Like the Blackhawks, the Coyotes have endured prolonged slumps on
offense this season. Arizona has scored three-plus goals in only 10
out of 24 games this season.

Right winger Radim Vrbata leads the Coyotes with 17 points (eight
goals, nine assists) in 24 games. Vrbata's five-game point streak
ended Monday when he was held scoreless against the Blue Jackets.

The matchup in net likely will feature Chicago's Scott Darling
against Arizona's Mike Smith. Darling is 4-2-1 with a .912 save
percentage and a 2.71 goals-against average in nine games.
Meanwhile, Smith is 4-2-3 with a .930 save percentage and a 2.64
GAA in 10 games.

Smith, 34, is coming off one of the best performances -- certainly
the busiest -- of his career. The Ontario native set a franchise
record with 58 saves on 60 shots Saturday in a home game against
the Blue Jackets. Smith's 58 saves also marked the most by any
goaltender in the NHL this season.

"He has been a key guy for us," Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said
during an interview Monday with Fox Sports Arizona. "We need him to
play well. We're still trying to find our footing as a young team,
and he has certainly been a backbone for us."

Coyotes veteran Shane Doan is sitting on 399 career goals. The
40-year-old is on the cusp of becoming the eighth active player and
the 93rd player in NHL history to score 400 goals.

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