Tonight marks the ever important third game in the best of
seven series between the Los Angeles Kings and the Phoenix Coyotes. Often
considered a swing game in a series, tonight proves no different. The Kings
have the opportunity to take a stranglehold on the series by going up 3-0 while
the Coyotes could easily turn the momentum of the series if they can grab a win
before getting center Martin Hanzal back from suspension for game 4.
The Kings have adopted a few different images during this
playoff run as they are exceeding even the loftiest of pre-season predictions
for them. They are seen as underdogs, unstoppable, technically sound and road
warriors (not that they have been bad at home either, of course). Phoenix on
the other hand suddenly looks frail and like they lucked their way into the
Conference Finals which I would not say is the case. Perhaps going on the road
will give Phoenix a chance to better focus and to start playing with a chip on
their shoulder. The Coyotes will certainly need a complete team effort, key
under any Dave Tippet coached team, to tip the series scales in their favor.
With Hanzal out, Phoenix will need their depth centers to
provide extra support down the middle and they will look to Daymond Langkow,
Gilbert Brule, and Kyle Chipchura, who are all only a -1 through the first two
games, to do just that. The Coyotes have enough talent on the wings to score
but they need their defensive side of the game to step up including goalie Mike
Smith. If the Sean Burke reinforced netminder was ever thinking of stealing a
game then tonight would be an excellent place to start. Finally, the LA defense
has been rock solid all playoffs (Doughty and Mitchell arguably a cut above the
rest of any defensemen playing these playoffs) and this series is no different.
If the Desert Dogs hope to keep playing they will need Keith Yandle to remind
the hockey world why his name was in the Norris Trophy discussion in 2011.
For what little it’s
worth, Phoenix is 1-1-1 at Staples Center this regular season.
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