Coyotes Vs. Blackhawks, Game 5: Chicago Staves Off Elimination In Overtime

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Coyotes Vs. Blackhawks, NHL Playoffs 2012 Game 5: Chicago Forces Overtime

The Chicago Blackhawks had their backs against the wall in the third period of Game 5 of their Western Conference Quarterfinals series. Then Nick Leddy equalized for them against the Phoenix Coyotes, and the Blackhawks held on until overtime, prolonging the potentially decisive game of the best-of-seven series.

Midway through the third period, Leddy took a pass from Michael Frolik and found the range from near the top of the right faceoff circle, putting the puck past Mike Smith on the far side.

The Blackhawks have kept up the pressure on Smith all night, barraging him with 34 shots; Corey Crawford, on the other hand, has seen just 18.

But neither team has had any luck on the power play: both have gone 0-for-4 with a man advantage, and Phoenix has squandered all four power plays given to it by Viktor Stalberg.

The two teams will now head to their fifth overtime game in the series, marking the first time since 1951 that all five games of a series have not been decided in regulation.

For all news and information regarding the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, please visit SB Nation's dedicated NHL hub. For more from the Phoenix perspective, head over to Five For Howling and SB Nation Arizona. For more on the Blackhawks, check out Second City Hockey and SB Nation Chicago.

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Coyotes Vs. Blackhawks, NHL Playoffs 2012 Game 5: Phoenix Up 1-0, Poised To Win Series

The Phoenix Coyotes are one period away from heading to the Western Conference Semifinals. And they'll have eliminated the powerful Chicago Blackhawks to do so if they can hang on to the 1-0 lead they enjoy in Game 5 of their Western Conference Quarterfinals series.

Gilbert Brule took a feed from Marc-Antoine Pouliot in the second period of Game 5 and zipped a shot past Corey Crawford for the first goal of the night in the desert.

The goal was Brule's first of the series, and also got goalie Mike Smith — who has 22 saves on the night — an assist.

The Blackhawks certainly have the firepower to come back, but it would help if Viktor Stalberg could stay out of the penalty box: Stalberg has all three of Chicago's penalties on the night, and went to the sin bin twice in the final five minutes of the second period. Phoenix will begin the third period with a man advantage as a result.

For all news and information regarding the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, please visit SB Nation's dedicated NHL hub. For more from the Phoenix perspective, head over to Five For Howling and SB Nation Arizona. For more on the Blackhawks, check out Second City Hockey and SB Nation Chicago.

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Coyotes Vs. Blackhawks, NHL Playoffs 2012 Game 5: 0-0 Tie After First Period In Desert

Playing at home would theoretically help the Phoenix Coyotes in their Western Conference Quarterfinals series against the Chicago Blackhawks. Despite the Coyotes keeping the game goalless — it's 0-0 after the first period -- it's the Blackhawks who look hotter in the desert.

Chicago fired 12 shots on Phoenix goalie Mike Smith, taking advantage of three Coyotes giveaways in the period to dominate play. The Coyotes managed only four shots on Corey Crawford in the period.

Bryan Bickell, Andrew Brunette and Michael Frolik each had two shots for the Blackhawks. No Phoenix player had more than one shot on goal, but Adrian Aucoin both drew and committed a penalty in the period.

For all news and information regarding the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, please visit SB Nation's dedicated NHL hub. For more from the Phoenix perspective, head over to the Five For Howling and SB Nation Arizona. For more on the Blackhawks, check out Second City Hockey and SB Nation Chicago.

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ANIMATED: Pint-Sized Coyotes Fan Reactions Are The Best Reactions

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Raffi Torres Suspended, Termed Repeat Offender By NHL

Phoenix Coyotes winger Raffi Torres has been suspended 25 games for his hit on Marian Hossa and will miss the rest of the NHL playoffs and some of the 2012 NHL season. One of the focal points in the length of Torres' suspension was the fact that he violated three separate rules with the hit, as well as being deemed a "repeat offender" by the NHL's new CBA.

Over the past 13 months Torres has been suspended by the NHL twice for flagrant hits.

In January, Torres was suspended for leaving his feet to check Minnesota Wild defenseman Nate Prosser, a hit similar to the one Torres landed on Hossa in Thursday night's game. NHL Senior Vice President of Player Safety Brendan Shanahan gave Torres a two-game suspension for the Prosser hit. Torres left his feet at Prosser on the same day that he was fined $2,500 for elbowing Colorado Avalanche defenseman Jan Hejda a few games earlier.

Torres was also suspended for four games in April 2011 for a hit on Edmonton Oilers' Jordan Eberle. In the NHL Playoffs that season Torres knocked Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook out of the game with a hard hit behind the net. Torres wasn't suspended then because that type of hit wasn't illegal under the head shot rule at the time.

Stick with SBNation.com for full Coyotes vs. Blackhawks series coverage. For more from the Phoenix perspective, head over to the Five For Howling. For more on the Blackhawks, check out Second City Hockey.