March 12, 2013; Glendale, AZ, USA; Phoenix Coyotes goalie Mike Smith (41) makes the save as defenseman Derek Morris (53) clears a Los Angeles Kings player during the second period at Jobing.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

The early part of the game gave us a glimpse of playoff hockey and the first of 3 games in a week’s time. Almost like the Anaheim mini series but this has a few road games sandwiched in between and it is one home and 2 road back to back instead of vice versa. Opening the drama was a check on Ginobili I mean Dustin Brown who looked as if he had been hit with a double barrel shotgun. The enforcer was Rastislov “Rusty” Klesla delivered a bit of payback. If you remember it was Brown’s hit that blew up Michael “Rosie” Rozsival after the whistle. Needless to say Dustin is not a Arizona favorite.

After the dive the Coyotes killed the penalty without a shot. Following an icing the cycle worked to perfection and the puck found Boedker with a wrister stick side to open the cheers of “Hey Goalie you SUCK!” 1-0 Yotes midway through the first period. Late in the opening stanza Steve Sullivan passed to the point and Derek Morris made a nice shot pass to Shane Doan who deflected it in passed the sprawling Quick. 2-0 Yotes

In a blink it was 4-0 Coyotes and it was Mikkel Boedker again on the much maligned power play followed by a gritty backhander from Raffi Torres 10 minutes after who added an assist to get 3rd star. The near sellout crowd was loud and in a frenzy chanting Beat LA and hey ref you suck. Seems we never get the lion share of calls against the Kings.

LA made it worth sticking around for a minute or two after a late 2nd period goal followed by a frenzy as Dave Tippett was forced to call a timeout to rest after an icing call. Even in the 3rd period the Kings scored to cut the lead in half but it was short lived. Fan favorite Rob Klinkhammer scored his 2nd goal in 2 games with the big club to ice this Pacific Division tilt in favor of Phoenix.

Boedker and Oliver E Larsson are my vote for future Captains with OEL getting my nod. They have tremendous upside and talent.

The win was a must on get away night with 4 straight on the road starting with St. Louis, Columbus, and a pair in Los Angeles.

Everybody was Howlin’ tonight baby.

This is a tough one. Deserved an F at times and an A at times. Some serious talent here. Oliver Ekman Larsson is a phenominal skater and definitely the future of this franchise. Derek Morris has been most steady of the bunch and big Z has been the most  gritty. Michalek has stopped pucks with ever part of his body including his jaw. The 6th defenseman has been a rotating door. It appears they are stabilizing and can shut out any team at any time. Then give up 6 to Chicago or San Jose. That will be the measuring stick.

Power Play:  C-

I see promise here. I know the numbers are still not great but I see much better flow and movement. I just wish they would pretend it was 5 on 5. For some reason they pass it 9 times then turn it over. If only they could get more pucks on net. For goodness sake get some on in the slot or in front of then net.

Goalies:  B-

Smith also has been great then terrible. BUT his short comings at times can be somewhat attributed to the defensive lapses. Nick Johnson was great. LaBarbera inconsistent. I just think this group was better than the defense at times and aided by them as well. They go hand and hand in a Tippett system.

Fans: B

I see real promise here including the highest number of season ticket holders ever. Sell out on Monday and against the better teams the building is near full. Yeah you have Columbus a few and an 8pm school night game but I think this group has a tremendous uptrend.

All together I give the team an B- for battling through a tough start and many injuries with no camp. Ownership uncertainty and many new and moving pieces that have had a short time to gel together.