The final score may have some thinking LA in a back to back on tired legs. The fact is the game was over before legs could start to burn.
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.