(Video courtesy of Yahoo! Sports)
By Ben Meyer-Abbott
bmeyer-abbott@suntimes.com
Twitter: @BMACST
GLENDALE, Ariz. - An already physical series was given its first major flash-point in the second period of Game 2 when the Blackhawks' Andrew Shaw appeared to use his shoulder to strike the head Phoenix netminder Mike Smith while the Coyotes' goalie was handling the puck behind his net.
Smith remained down on the ice for several minutes while a scrum ensued around Shaw.
Shaw, whose hit in Game 1 on Radim Vrbata caused the Coyotes' forward to miss nearly all of that game, received a five-minute major penalty for charging and was assessed a game misconduct.
Smith returned to his crease after receiving attention for the Phoenix medical staff and did not leave the ice or miss any game time. Several Hawks' players appeared incredulous about Smith's quick recovery and appeared to indicate they thought the Coyotes goalie over-sold the hit.
Antoine Vermette scored his second power-play goal of the game to give the Coyotes a 3-2 lead they would take into the second intermission.
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