The Kings are 1-5 in games that started around noon this season. Their sole win came in Game 2 against St. Louis. Last season, the Kings were 5-1 in those situations. Dogmatic karma can be a bitch.
The game itself was a stay of execution for the Phoenix Coyotes, who scored 2 goals off some great efforts by Shane Doan, and have forced the series into a game 5 back in Phoenix. The Kings have been perfect on the road so far in these playoffs, and will look to finish things off on Tuesday May 22nd at 6 p.m. PST.
Mike Smith was brilliant in goal, and held the Kings off the scoreboard for the first time in twenty games (when the Kings were shut out by Vancouver in the regular season, even though the Kings outshot them 48-25). The Kings outshot Phoenix 36-21, but for the first time couldn’t find a way to solve Smith. For the series, the Kings have outshot the Coyotes 122-76.
[Boxscore] [Head-to-head time on ice] [Shot differential (Corsi/Fenwick)] [Faceoffs]
Highlights and both coach interviews after the jump.
Daryl Sutter didn’t seemed panicked by the loss. He had these comments after the game.
The Kings’ penalty killing (which has been a strength all season) went 1 for 3 tonight. The power play went 0 for 6. The Kings took an edge on faceoffs (33 to 26). Kings were out hit 35-33. Drew Doughty and Trevor Lewis lead the Kings with 5 shots on net apiece. Shane Doan and Ekman-Larsson lead the Phoenix Coyotes with 3 shots each on net.
Here’s some opposing views from Phoenix coach Dave Tippett:
Finally, in the spirit of things I leave you with a song my mother loved (which seems appropriate even though I’m not a huge country music fan).