Blackhawks lead Coyotes 1-0 after one period

By Chris Kuc

The Blackhawks figured to be plenty motivated for Friday night's game against the Coyotes at the United Center. The Hawks are trying to avoid their first three-game losing streak of the season and Phoenix after five consecutive wins is closing in on them in the Western Conference.

So far, so good for the Hawks. They hold a 1-0 lead over the Coyotes after one period in front of a season-high crowd of 22,169. Colin Fraser scored his second goal of the season early in the period. The goal came from a shot from the right circle after Phoenix goaltender Jason LaBarbera kicked aside a Duncan Keith blast.

The Hawks appear to have caught a break as LaBarbera got the call in goal for the Coyotes instead of Ilya Bryzgalov, one of the top netminders in the league. Cristobal Huet turned aside all nine of the Coyotes' first-period shots for the Hawks.