Los Angeles Kings Rookie Left Wing Dwight King’s Wildest Dreams Are Coming True

Los Angeles Kings rookie left wing Dwight King has scored
five goals in twelve playoff games this season.
(click to view a larger image).
Photo: David Sheehan/FrozenRoyalty.net

LOS ANGELES AND EL SEGUNDO, CA — Playing in the National Hockey League, and in the 2012 Western Conference Finals, has to be beyond the wildest dreams of Los Angeles Kings left wing Dwight King.

After his first recall on November 16, 2010, the 6-3, 234-pound native of Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, made his NHL debut the next night against the Columbus Blue Jackets. But he only lasted six games with the Kings before being sent back to the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League (Kings’ primary minor league affiliate).

During that six-game stint with the big club, King, was Read more of this post

Phoenix Coyotes Don’t Look Like They Have An Answer For The Los Angeles Kings

Los Angeles Kings right wing Dustin Brown (left) and center Anze Kopitar (right) are but two Kings who are thoroughly frustrating the Phoenix Coyotes
in the 2012 Western Conference Finals.
(click to view a larger image).
Photo: David Sheehan/FrozenRoyalty.net

EL SEGUNDO, CA — After dropping Games 1 and 2 of the 2012 Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Kings, both rather lopsided affairs on home ice, the Phoenix Coyotes let their frustration boil over, as National Hockey League teams often do, resulting in a parade to the penalty box.

That frustration led to two dangerous incidents, including a careless, dangerous, knee-on-knee hit by Coyotes defenseman Derek Morris on Kings defenseman Rob Scuderi (Morris received a minor penalty on the play), and an even more dangerous hit from behind by Coyotes center Martin Hanzal Read more of this post

Los Angeles Kings/Phoenix Coyotes: 2012 Western Conference Finals Preview

The NHL’s 2012 Western Conference Finals may boil down to a goaltender’s duel between Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick (shown here at a
recent practice session), and Phoenix Coyotes netminder Mike Smith.
(click to view a larger image).
Photo: David Sheehan/FrozenRoyalty.net

EL SEGUNDO, CA — Despite what the players and coaches have been saying over the past week, the National Hockey League’s 2012 Western Conference Finals (Game 1 is scheduled for tonight, 5:00 PM PDT, Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Arizona) features two teams that are very, very similar.

Whether it is a hard, aggressive forecheck, solid play in the defensive end, stand-on-your-head goaltending, both teams making strong runs at the end of the season to make the playoffs, and peaking at just the right time, the Los Angeles Kings and the Phoenix Coyotes, both Pacific Division rivals, would not be easy to differentiate if they wore the same jerseys. Read more of this post

Los Angeles Kings: Doughty’s Maturity Starting To Show In Post-Season

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty has grown up considerably
this season, and that is starting to show on the ice during the playoffs.
(click to view a larger image).
Photo: David Sheehan/FrozenRoyalty.net

EL SEGUNDO, CA — After making quick work of the Vancouver Canucks, sending them off to an early summer vacation after just five, first round playoff games, the Los Angeles Kings have a commanding 3-0 lead in their best-of-seven, second round series against the St. Louis Blues, with Game 4 coming up today, at noon PDT (Staples Center in Los Angeles).

As one of the many clichés about playoff hockey goes, a team’s best players must be just that if that team expects to be successful in post-season play, and for the Kings, that has been exactly the case.

Indeed, the Kings’ top players, including Dustin Brown, Jeff Carter, Drew Doughty, Anze Kopitar, Mike Richards Read more of this post

Credit Goes To Dean Lombardi, Darryl Sutter For Los Angeles Kings Coming From Behind To Make Playoffs

Los Angeles Kings head coach Darryl Sutter (right)
talks things over with center Jarret Stoll
during a recent practice.
Photo: David Sheehan

LOS ANGELES AND EL SEGUNDO, CA — As the National Hockey League enters its final day of the 2011-12 regular season, the playoff teams in the Western and Eastern Conferences have been determined. But even on the last day, there is still something to play for in both conferences, as the winners of the Southeast and Pacific Divisions have yet to be decided, as of this writing.

The Washington Capitals, currently second in the Southeast, and eighth in the Eastern Conference, could win their division, and could switch places in the conference standings with the current division leader, the Florida Panthers.

In the West, the Phoenix Coyotes moved into the top spot in the Pacific Division after blowing out the St. Louis Blues on April 6, 4-1, in St. Louis.

The Los Angeles Kings could still wrest the Pacific Division crown from the Coyotes, but the scenarios are a bit complicated… Read more of this post

Speed, Consistency and Trust Comes From LA Kings’ Balance Throughout Lineup

Newly-acquired forward Jeff Carter’s presence has
had a positive, cascading effect throughout the
Los Angeles Kings’ lineup.
Photo: David Sheehan

LOS ANGELES AND EL SEGUNDO, CA — For a rather fleeting couple of days, the Los Angeles Kings got to enjoy the view from above, looking down from first place in the Pacific Division, and third place in the Western Conference, at several teams below them in the standings, all vying for the handful of playoff spots still up for grabs.

But after a 4-2 defeat at the hands of the defending Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins on March 24 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, the Kings’ six-game winning streak came to a grinding halt. Even worse, they fell from third in the West all the way down to eighth.

For the Kings, the good news is that they are just one point behind both the Dallas Stars and the Phoenix Coyotes for the division lead. But the bad news is that they are tied in points with ninth-place San Jose, and tenth place Colorado. Read more of this post

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