Up 3-1 on Blackhawks, Coyotes know nothing has been won yet

If the Coyotes’ first round series with the Chicago
Blackhawks was a best-of-five, they’d have already won and
advanced to the second round.

Unfortunately, it’s a best-of-seven series.

The Coyotes, who hold a 3-1 series lead, will have a
chance to finish the Blackhawks off Saturday at Jobing.com
Arena in Glendale.

They know it won’t be easy.

“They’re going to throw everything at us,” defenseman
Adrian Aucoin said. “Realistically, it’s going to be as
hard as any other game, it’s just a stigma that comes with
it because it’s always hard to close a series out.”

The Coyotes know that better than anyone, having not won a
playoff series since 1987. But they’re in decent shape
now, needing only to win one game before the Blackhawks
win three.

“We’ve put ourselves in a good position here, but the
fourth one is going to be the hardest,” goalie Mike Smith
said.

Smith knows his team is facing a real good hockey team,
one that does not go down quietly, be it in a game or
series. So, the ‘Yotes still have their work cut out for
them.

“That’s something that speaks to their character and their
leadership over there,” captain Shane Doan said. “It’s
going to be the hardest game and it’s going to be a fun
game.

“You want to play in these games; you want to have the
opportunity to play and have a chance to go to the next
round.”

The Coyotes will have that chance.

Arizona Sports’ Craig Grialou contributed to this
report

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