Ray Whitney not happy (Photo: Bridget Samuel/Flickr)

If you want extra time, then Game 5 of the Phoenix Coyotes and Chicago Blackhawks was the game for you. It was the first time since 1951 that a game went into a  5th straight overtime that the Coyotes and Blackhawks went back into OT to decide who won this game. I am not even kidding when I said 1951. You heard me correctly.  Jonathan Toews wins the game in OT for the Blackhawks, 3-2.Highlights from the game

1st period

In the 1st period, the Blackhawks out shot and outworked the Coyotes in the first period, 12-4 but Mike Smith kept the Coyotes in as the score was kept at 0-0 on two back to back power plays in the first period. The Blackhawks were peppering shots left to right on Smith as he saved a shot on Viktor Stalberg from making this game a 1-0 Chicago lead. It was a very fluky shot by Toews that was deflected by Stalberg but Smith was able to stop it. Then Smith saved another shot by Jonathan Toews as Smith came up big for the Coyotes.

The Coyotes could not get anything done on the power play as the Blackhawks killed off a high sticking call to Stalberg. Blackhawks on the other hand got shots on the powerplay but Smith is keeping the Coyotes in the game. Power Play for either teams had not been a big factor in this series. Before the game even started, the Coyotes were 2 for 11 on the powerplay while the Blackhawks were 1 for 16. Yeah, like I said before, the power play has not been a big factor at all.

2nd Period

In the second period, the Coyotes answered back with the Hawks first period of play as Lauri Korpikoski and Mikkel Boedker break out on a 2-on-1 but Crawford gets the puck with his glove. It was a beautiful glove save by Crawford. Then the Coyotes crashed in on a Niklas Hjalmarsson mistake as Marc-Antoine Pouliot passed the puck to Gilbert Brule, who on a breakaway, went top shelf on Crawford and the Coyotes take a one to nothing lead. That was a huge break for the Coyotes as they have been out shot by the Blackhawks.
As the Coyotes hold onto their one to nothing lead, on the opposite end of the ice, Mike Smith came up big for the Coyotes as he had two very big stops on both Jonathan Toews, the player that I spotlighted in the game preview to watch out for and his teammate, Michael Frolik. They both had very two quality scoring chances but Smith came up big for the Coyotes. Can you say MVP for Smith right now? I sure can! But his teammates have done a great job protecting Smith and giving the Blackhawks no second chances. On the other side of the rink, Crawford had kept his team in the game as he made save after save.

The second period of this game was Coyotes’ all, as they have been making the Coyotes frustrated and Blackhawks can’t seem to get anything past Mike Smith. 

3rd Period

In the third period, the same old story with the power play as the Coyotes can’t get anything on it. Marcus Kruger had a chance to tie the game up but Smith stops the shot.  Nick Leddy’s shot was deflected as it went past Smith‘s glove and the Blackhawks tied the score up 1-1. Leddy‘s shot was deflected as it went past Smith‘s glove and the Blackhawks tied the score up 1-1.  On the powerplay, Mike Smith saved the Coyotes as many chances tried to get him through. Smith did unfortunately make his first make as he let a rebound go to Leddy, but he couldn’t put the puck past Smith.

The puck went wide and then while shorthanded, Shane Doan with a breakaway tried to get past Crawford but Crawford was much better than him. Doan with many opportunities right can’t seem to get anything past Crawford but Crawford was smarter than Doan.

Overtime
In OT, Jonathan Toews got the game winner in OT as the Blackhawks won 2-1. The puck snuck past Smith. This series is going back for a Game 6 as the Coyotes once again will try to win the series while the Blackhawks will try and tie the series up at 3 games a piece.

Game Notes:
-Before the game started, the NHL announced that Raffi Torres is suspended for 25 games for his hit on Marian Hossa.

- Lauri Korpikoski came back into the lineup after missing the last 4 games with an injury.

Scratches:

Hanzal (injury); Raffi Torres (Suspension) for the Coyotes
Marian Hossa (Injury); Andrew Shaw finishing up a 3 game suspension for the Blackhawks.

Power Play
Blackhawks: 0/4
Coyotes: 0/4

Shots on Goal
Blackhawks: 38
Coyotes: 19

Hits

Blackhawks: 27

Coyotes: 32

Tonight’s goalies: PHX – Mike Smith; CHI – Corey Crawford.

17,746 in attendance