Coyotes host defending champ Kings; Remember Dustin Brown?

Saturday 6pm AZ time the puck drops and for these two desperate teams.

Los Angeles Kings have been less than the Stanley Cup champions. Winless in three games so far on 2013. Both teams met in the Western Conference Championship. They have 1 win between them in 7 games. Most will focus squarely on Dustin Brown.

Images of him blowing up Rozsival on the blue line after the whistle still draws angst from Yotes fans. Not only the collision but his cocky tongue out reaction knowing he had just seriously injured a Phoenix defensmen. Moments after Michael was carried off the ice the visibly shaken and angry Coyotes gave up the game and series winning goal. Was it a dirty play? Maybe not. Looking at it in full speed he targeted his check and it was bang bang at the whistle. My opinion is it was not dirty. Then again I did not think Raffi Torres deserved a lengthy bad for his hit. Both were eerily similar in the fact the victims circled oddly for no reason away from the normal play. Rosie should have dumped the puck at that moment. Instead he awkwardly straddled the line leaving him exposed. But this is Dustin Brown. The little angry midget who likes to instigate the other team. Not the classy captain Doan, who confronted Brown in the hand shake line. I for one will boo Dustin because I don’t like him. I will boo because he is a King. Mostly I will boo because I respect him and his game. It produces results. Just not so far this season as it appears LA has a bit of a Cup hangover.

The Coyotes problem has been defensive lapses and early injuries. The Kings however have only scored a goal a game. Lacking any zip will be a recipe for success for Phoenix. Especially if they play the system defense we are so used to. The game will be won most likely by special teams. Should be about a 2 – 2 game with possibly overtime.

Matt Lombardi’s return was short lived for the time being. Appears he has another concussion which plagued him in Nashville. He is out indefinitely. Mike Smith day to day and Martin Hanzal  will play.

Nick Johnson was called up from the Portland Pirates.