Keller scores pair as Coyotes cruise past Blackhawks

Clayton Keller scored two goals, including one of three first-period goals that powered the Arizona Coyotes to a 5-2 win over the visiting Chicago Blackhawks Thursday night in Glendale, Ariz. The Coyotes scored twice on their first four shots of the game, peppering Chicago goaltender Robin Lehner with 17 shots in the first 20 minutes. Michael Grabner, Keller, and Brad Richardson scored, with former Blackhawk Vinnie Hinostroza assisting on all three first-period goals.

Keller scored his second goal with 2:07 left in the game. Christian Dvorak added two assists, and Arizona outshot the Blackhawks 40-29 for the game. Arizona also got a goal from Nick Schmaltz off a faceoff in the second period. The Coyotes have won four of their last six games overall despite only two home victories in their last six games at Gila River Arena (2-3-1), and defeated the Blackhawks for the second time in five days after a 4-3 shootout wins on Dec. 8 in Chicago.

Jonathan Toews scored Chicago's first goal, his third in five games, with defenseman Dennis Gilbert getting an assist for his first career NHL point. Former Coyote Dylan Strome, the third overall pick of the 2015 NHL Draft for Arizona, scored on a power play at 12:58 of the third period.

The Blackhawks have lost three straight (0-2-1) and are 3-7-2 in their last 12 games. They've lost five of the last six meetings with Arizona, going 1-4-1. Three former Blackhawks figured in the scoring for Arizona -- Schmaltz, Hinostroza and Jordan Oesterle, who assisted on Keller's first goal.

Darcy Kuemper had 28 saves for Arizona. Lehner, 5-0-1 against Arizona in his career until Thursday, stopped 35 shots. The Blackhawks came into the game shorthanded, playing without defensemen Duncan Keith and Calvin de Haan, who was placed on injured reserve before Thursday's game with a right shoulder injury. De Haan was injured in Tuesday night's loss at Vegas.

Defenseman Olli Maatta returned against Arizona after missing the previous four games due to illness.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)