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.

This has turned into a heated rivalry over night. Put the Red Wings on the back burner. Whenever a next season arrives, one man and one team will have a circled on the calendar. Dustin Brown and the Los Angeles Kings.

Who is more upset at this point? The Coyotes or the fans. Both but most likely Neither. The coaches know better to let things get out of hand and have focus lost at any point of a long season. The players will target Brown just because of who he is and what he tries to accomplish on the ice. His flops and borderline hits have given him a reputation. His attitude makes him a marked man.

When you think about it aren’t all captains targeted for hits over most? Shane Doan is a tough competitor. I would never even think the word dirty when thinking Doan. To this fan and writer he is the epitome of class. The hit on Rosie came during a series where the Coyotes were called for every little thing. Torres had just been suspended for a similar situation. He had targeted Hossa and all of a sudden a weird movement by the victim created a hit that was worse than it should of been. See Rozsival like Hossa made a mistake and it put them in jeopardy.

Hossa turned toward his own net after passing the puck heading toward the center red line on their way to the Coyotes end. It was an unexpected change of direction that had Raffi lifting and a violent collision ensued. Similar was the case when Rosie did not dump the puck and turn straight down his blue line in a unnatural move and he got collected. It’s not the play that is disputed. It was a bang bang play as the whistle was blowing. Sure it was a horrible outcome and no one wants to see someone get blown up like that. To a man it was not dirty it was just unfortunate.

What gets people upset is the attitude Brown takes as if he has no compassion for his fellow competitors. Doan and Brown are polar opposite in that regard. As far as being a captain, they are both as determined as anyone. It is a privilege and an honor to slap that C on your sweater. It is to be respected. Even Dustin Brown is deserving of respect.

Having said that, I hope every opportunity available he is checked, hit, dumped, slashed, and put on his butt as much as possible. That’s hockey.