PHX VS CHICoyotes glad Vrbata back in fold for Game 2
By Stanley Cup 2012
Posted: Saturday, April 14, 2012 | 05:20 PM
Categories: Chicago Blackhawks, Hockey Night in Canada, PHX VS CHI, Phoenix Coyotes
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Radim Vrbata was Phoenix's primary sniper this season, but had to leave Game 1 early against Chicago. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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By Tracey MyersPhoenix forward Radim Vrbata will play Saturday night, after he missed most of Game 1 with an upper-body injury.
Vrbata, who led Phoenix with 35 goals this season, gives the Coyotes - and their top line - an obvious boost going into Game 2.
"He's a high-skill player. And when he gets chances he has the ability to score," coach Dave Tippett said. "Getting him back, hopefully he gets some chances and he can capitalize on them."
Change gonna come?
The Chicago Blackhawks had their same lines and defensive pairs going at Saturday morning's skate. But coach Joel Quenneville has never been shy about changing things up when the Blackhawks have an off game, and there could still be lineup changes for Game 2.
The likely change could come on defence. Sami Lepisto was off the ice early, usually an indication a player is in the lineup that night. But Lepisto said he wasn't sure if he would play in Game 2.
Finding traffic
The Blackhawks fired a whopping 45 shots at Phoenix goaltender Mike Smith in Game 1.
But Smith could see a lot of them, and the Blackhawks know they need to create more traffic, more chaos in front of him tonight to be more successful.
"We just need to go for the second and third opportunities off rebounds," said Blackhawks forward Bryan Bickell. "He's been a great goaltender all year long, and it's hard to beat him one on one. We need traffic tips, second opportunities to cash in."
Expected lineups:
BLACKHAWKS
Patrick Kane-Jonathan Toews-Marian Hossa
Patrick Sharp-Marcus Kruger-Viktor Stalberg
Bryan Bickell-Dave Bolland-Andrew Shaw
Brandon Bollig-Jamal Mayers-Andrew Brunette
Duncan Keith-Brent Seabrook
Johnny Oduya-Nick Leddy
Niklas Hjalmarsson-Sean O'Donnell
Corey Crawford
COYOTES
Ray Whitney-Martin Hanzal -Radim Vrbata
Mikkel Bodker-Antoine Vermette-Shane Doan
Raffi Torres-Daymond Langkow-Gilbert Brule
Lauri Korpikoski-Boyd Gordon-Taylor Pyatt
Keith Yandle-Derek Morris
Oliver Ekman-Larsson-Adrian Aucoin
Rostislav Klesla-Michael Rozsival
Mike Smith
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Stanley Cup 2012
Coverage of every Stanley Cup playoff series is what you will find here. We'll have the news from the dressing rooms, the executives suites and the fans in the stands. We'll be here with the details of every series until the Cup is lifted by the victorious captains.
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