Comments / New

Game Day Watch, 3/14: Arizona Coyotes @ Los Angeles Kings

Posted on by Eric Kveton

HOW TO WATCH

Game Time: 7:30 PM Pacific
TV: Fox Sports West
Radio: KABC AM 790
Stream: Fox Sports Go (requires cable subscription)

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

if you’re a Kings fan: First the target was Calgary. Then it was St. Louis. Now it’s… I don’t know… Edmonton? At this point it doesn’t matter who the Kings are chasing. They need wins. And points. And goals. And all that. The fans are frustrated, the players are frustrated, and even if Darryl Sutter had a wry smile on his face throughout yesterday’s press conference, he’s probably frustrated too. LA has a lot of very winnable games coming up, and this is the first one.

if you’re a Coyotes fan: Arizona fans have long considered LA their biggest rival, and after a few years out of the playoffs, they haven’t had a whole lot of opportunity to really stick it to the Kings. Shane Doan (who endured a violent collision with his own teammate during warmups yesterday), Radim Vrbata (why didn’t LA gamble on him during free agency again?), and the rest of the Yotes very much would like to help send the Kings packing.

if you’re a hockey fan: I can’t guarantee an overly exciting contest, but I CAN tell you that the last game between the Kings and the Coyotes was crazy as all heck. If tonight’s game is anything like that one you’ll be entertained, as a bonus, you’ll get to watch all of us at Jewels from the Crown lose our collective minds!

PLAYERS TO WATCH

for the Kings: Ben Bishop. Jonathan Quick sustained his first home loss of the season yesterday, though it was hardly his fault. This is why LA got Bishop, though, and with a common refrain of late being “Why did LA choose to spend their cap room on a goalie again?” this is a chance for Bishop to earn his squad a couple key points.

for the Coyotes: Louis Domingue. Domingue is arguably playing for a job next season, and the 25-year-old has struggled, especially when trying to stop shots on the penalty kill. He hasn’t been Zatkoff-level bad and he is signed through next season, but if he wants to keep a full-time NHL gig he needs to put up some good starts. Even if some his teammates don’t have much to play for, Domingue does.

KINGS (AND RIVALS) WATCH

Via LA Kings Insider, here’s the 2016-17 team photo! Hopefully it doesn’t meet the same fate as the 2014-15 team photo, which was on my fridge for a month before I sadly recycled it. Much like the Kings themselves, it presumably found new life the next year.

  • As long as we’re keeping an eye on rivals: Calgary won their tenth in a row yesterday. Remarkable. [Matchsticks & Gasoline]
  • “It’s not time to panic. Not yet.” Hi Oilers. [Copper N Blue]/

WATCH THIS

Kopitar the Horse!

Talking Points