CHICAGO — We're going to assume there is a bottom to the Phoenix Coyotes' well of resolve. Every team has limitations, right?
We assumed that the 3-year-old ownership saga eventually would take its toll, yet here the Coyotes are making their third straight playoff appearance.
We assumed their lack of firepower would doom them in the high-flying Western Conference, yet their pack mentality has kept them a respectable offensive team.
We assumed the loss of goalie Ilya Bryzgalov was insurmountable, and then Mike Smith one-upped him.
We assumed the absence of center Martin Hanzal and wing Lauri Korpikoski in Game 3 on Tuesday would be a death blow, and then Mikkel Boedker banged in an overtime goal to give Phoenix a 3-2 win at the United Center and a 2-1 series lead over the Chicago Blackhawks.
"Every win is important in a series for sure," Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said. "After losing the second game at home, to come in here tonight is certainly a big boost for us momentum-wise."
Not that the Coyotes won't be facing more hurdles. Hanzal and Korpikoski are still out, and Phoenix is probably going to lose forward Raffi Torres to a suspension after he left his feet to deliver an open-ice shoulder to the head of Blackhawks wing Marian Hossa midway through Tuesday's first period.
A league source expects Torres' hearing to be Wednesday, allowing NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan time to rule before these teams meet in Game 4 on Thursday in Chicago.
"We won't go there yet," Tippett said. "Before we lose him, let's really lose him. I worry about the things I can control right now, and that's not one of them."
What Tippett's Coyotes do control right now is this series. All three games have gone to overtime, a clear sign of how evenly matched these teams are, but Phoenix has found a way to keep the upper hand, never trailing in this series.
"That's huge," captain Shane Doan. "It's a psychological edge."
It's one the Coyotes haven't maintained in the past. Credit Phoenix for battling back from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits to force overtime in this game. Credit them for finding a way to produce without their best center and a playoff-molded wing. Credit this interchangeable roster for producing new stars every night, such Boedker (goal, assist) and Rostislav 'Rusty' Klesla (goal, two assists) on Tuesday.
But Phoenix has led a first-round playoff series four other times since arriving in the Valley of the Sun, most recently in 2010 when it held a 2-1 lead over the Detroit Red Wings. The Coyotes just haven't closed the deal.
Hossa's status for Game 4 is unknown, but if he misses the game it will rob Chicago of a supremely gifted two-way player. Opportunity knocks for the Coyotes to seize control of this series — and to move within a victory of accomplishing something no Coyotes club has done before.
"We're in a position that we like very much," Boedker said. "You don't ever want to fall behind in a series, so it was good to come out on top.
"Now we get a littler breather before we go back at it again with a much bigger opportunity ahead of us."
