Kings-Coyotes WCF Game 4 Preview: In Dreams

IN: Martin Hanzal (Return from Suspension), Adrian Aucoin (Return from Injury)

OUT: Paul Bissonnette (Healthy Scratch), Michael Stone (Healthy Scratch), Kyle Clifford (Healthy Scratch)

Lineups:

Pyatt-Hanzal-Vrbata
Whitney-Vermette-Doan
Korpikoski-Gordon-Boedker
Brule/Pouliot-Langkow-Chipchura

Yandle-Morris
Rozsival-Larsson
Klesla -Aucoin

Smith

Kings lineup:

Brown-Kopitar-Williams
Penner-Richards-Carter
King-Stoll-Lewis
Clifford-Richardson-Nolan

Scuderi-Doughty
Mitchell-Voynov
Martinez-Greene

Quick

Game 4 will likely see an influx of new blood for the Coyotes. Adrian Aucoin practiced with the team in recent days and appears ready to go. Martin Hanzal is returning from suspension. Will this be enough for the Coyotes to finally take their first game in the series?

If not, and the Kings get on top early, will the Coyotes frustrations boil over? Hopefully not for the Kings sake. They need everyone healthy if they're going onto the final.

If the Coyotes do get a jump early (as they did in Game 1) it'll be an interesting reality check. The Coyotes have been nearly unbeatable under Dave Tippett when they get an early lead (they've won 79% of games when scoring first over 4 years). In order to avoid this Sutter is trying to keep his team focused. They again stayed at a hotel near Staples. Also via LAKI he had this message to his team:

"I think just trying to continue to harp detail on them. Hopefully they have the preparation skills to do that. … You’re going to get the same thing we got in the first period of last game, for sure. That’s logical, right? If I was those guys, I’d be doing the same thing. So, expect that. … I think they were really good in the neutral zone, and we weren’t as good."

We'll see what happens in few hours. I have a feeling there's a stronger likelihood than usual that first goal wins.