By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO
STATS Writer

Chicago (8-4-1) at Phoenix (9-6-0), 9:00 p.m. EDT

The Central Division-leading Chicago Blackhawks have dominated
the Phoenix Coyotes recently, and the possible return of captain
Jonathan Toews might help them continue that success.

Toews is expected to be a game-time decision Thursday night when
the Blackhawks look to beat the Coyotes for a seventh
consecutive time.

Chicago (8-4-1) has won six in a row - including all four
meetings last season - against the Coyotes (9-6-0), outscoring
them 23-5.

Getting their captain back in the lineup would provide the
Blackhawks with a lift after the All-Star center missed four
games with concussion-like symptoms stemming from a hit hard by
Vancouver's Willie Mitchell in the third period of a 3-2 loss on
Oct. 21.

Toews practiced Wednesday, but isn't sure if he'll be available
until just before the start of Thursday's contest.

"It's still to be determined, but I felt great (Wednesday),"
Toews said. "Hopefully, it keeps progressing like it has in the
past week or so. We'll see how it goes (Thursday) night.

"Coach just wants to make sure that everything is good before I
get in there and put myself to the test. Obviously, the game is
much different than practice."

Toews, who was nominated for the 2008 Calder Trophy won by
teammate Patrick Kane, had a goal and three assists in his last
four games after managing one assist in the first five contests
of the season. The slow start comes after he led Chicago with 34
goals while adding 35 assists - both career highs - in 2008-09.

Toews has four goals and five assists in six games against
Phoenix.

The Blackhawks have been good without Toews, going 3-1-0 after
beating Montreal 3-2 on Friday as Patrick Sharp scored the
winner with 3:10 to play.

"We just wanted to keep moving forward," Sharp said. "Without
trying to sound cocky or arrogant, we knew we were going to
win."

Sharp's goal against the Canadiens snapped a personal six-game
drought after he started the season with five goals in six
games. The right wing's 11 points rank him second on the team,
one back of Kane.

Sharp has also been a big part of the Blackhawks' success
against the Coyotes, tallying three goals and an assist in the
last four meetings.

Phoenix has stumbled of late, dropping consecutive games after
winning seven of the previous nine. The Coyotes lost again
Wednesday, falling 4-1 at Colorado.

"It was a pretty lackluster effort on our part for the better
part of two periods," said defenseman Ed Jovanovski, who scored
his team-leading fifth goal of the season against the Avalanche
after notching nine during all of 2008-09.

If the Coyotes are going to avoid a season-high third straight
loss and halt their slide against Chicago, they could use a
strong performance from goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov, who will
likely start after posting 25 saves Wednesday.

Bryzgalov is 0-4-2 with a 3.68 goals-against average in his last
seven games - six starts - versus the Blackhawks. He struggled
in his last start against them, making 21 saves in a 7-1 loss
Dec. 7.