Game Previews

Kings-Coyotes Game Preview: copy/paste

The game so nice, they played it twice.

Time: 7.30 PM

TV: Fox Sports West

Seats: Los Angeles Kings tickets

Enemy reading: Five for Howling

Coyotes (projected) lineup:

Boedker-Hanzal-Sullivan
Torres-Lombardi-Doan
Korpikoski-Vermette-Moss
Chipchura-Gordon-Bissonnette

Klesla-Ekman-Larsson
Yandle-Morris
Schlemko-Stone

Smith

Injured: Michalek (upper body), Vrbata (foot)

Kings (projected) lineup):

Brown-Kopitar-Williams
Richards-Carter-Toffoli
Lewis-Stoll-King
Clifford-Fraser-Penner

Muzzin-Doughty
Scuderi-Voynov
Martinez-Ellerby

Bernier

Injured: Greene (back), Mitchell (knee)

Game notes:

(brief & superficial because I have a filing deadline - sorry)

As Eric noted in his recap, the Kings didn't exactly kill the Coyotes last night. Phoenix pressed hard and played decently for stretches - they deserved better than a 4-0 score, but haha too bad.
I just threw up the lines the Coyotes used last night, but I would expect Dave Tippett to switch things up a bit, and maybe unleash Rob Klinkhammer from the pressbox.
Tyler Toffoli scored last night, which was nice but also a little bit expected, given the kinds of looks he got the previous game against San Jose. What I thought was also noteworthy is that Jake Muzzin got a goal last night too. His scoring rate is pretty unsustainable, but what a nice shot from the kid.
The power play is, in the words of a bro I know, totally crushing it right now. After a miserable start to the season, the PP is now at 22.9%, climbing from 29th or 28th or something terrible, to 9th in the League. The penalty kill...well. It misses Matt Greene and Willie Mitchell, is all I'll say about that.
Drew Doughty can't buy a goal but at least he can do this.
Jonathan Quick had a couple of little mishaps and adventures last night, but locked it down on most of the Coyotes' prime scoring chances. It was nice to see, but still, it's a back-to-back, and I hope Jonathan Bernier's starting tonight.
After last night, I'm with the Jeff Carter needs to stop passing crowd. Dustin Penner back to the second line, Toffoli to the third, Dwight King to the fourth? Discuss.
Go Kings Go