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

May 17, 2012 by 1 Comment

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

Filed under Audio/Video, News, NHL, Stanley Cup Playoffs Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Phoenix Coyotes Say They Have More To Worry About Than Los Angeles Kings’ Top Lines

May 15, 2012 by 3 Comments

Los Angeles Kings right wing Dustin Brown (left) and goalie Jonathan Quick (right), shown here at a recent practice session, led their team to a
decisive 4-2 win over the Phoenix Coyotes in Game 1 of the
Western Conference Finals in Glendale, Arizona, on May 13, 2012.
(click to view a larger image).
Photo: David Sheehan/FrozenRoyalty.net

Heading into Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals (scheduled for tonight, 6:00 PM PDT, Jobing.com Arena, Glendale, Arizona), the Phoenix Coyotes know that their biggest challenge will be finding a way to contain the Los Angeles Kings’ top lines, most notably, their first line of Dustin Brown, Anze Kopitar, and Justin Williams, who totally dominated whenever they were on the ice, and picked apart the Coyotes.

“Obviously, their top two lines are really skilled, real strong on the puck,” said Coyotes center Martin Hanzal. “We’ve got to make sure we can be hard on these guys, physical, and take the time and the space away from them. That’s going to be the key.” Read more of this post

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

May 13, 2012 by Leave a comment

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

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

April 7, 2012 by 1 Comment

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

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

March 26, 2012 by 1 Comment

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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No Looking Back For Los Angeles Kings, Who Have Their Eyes Aimed Directly Ahead

March 13, 2012 by Leave a comment

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Los Angeles Kings center Mike Richards played poorly at Detroit on
March 10, 2012, but bounced back with a strong performance
at Chicago the following night.
Photo: David Sheehan

EL SEGUNDO, CA — Returning home after a salvaging a four-game road trip through Nashville, Columbus, Detroit and Chicago, the Los Angeles Kings have no time to look back with just 13 games remaining on their schedule.

Through games played on March 12, the Kings find themselves in 11th place, two points behind eighth-place Colorado for the final playoff berth in the Western Conference. The Kings are also three points behind seventh-place Phoenix, and five points behind the Pacific Division-leading Dallas Stars.

If not for a poor effort at Columbus on March 8, and some atrocious defensive zone play late in their game at Detroit the following night, the Kings could easily be in seventh place in the conference. Read more of this post

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