Los Angeles at Phoenix 11/2/09

[LAKINGSNUT]

LOS ANGELES KINGS (8-4-2)


at


PHOENIX COYOTES (9-4-0)

GAME MEDIA
Game Time: 6:00 PM PST | 9:00 PM EST
Location: Jobing.com Arena | Glendale, AZ
TV Broadcast:
Home Team: FS-A (HD)
Away Team: FS-W (HD)
National TV: NHLN-CA
Radio Broadcast:
Home: XTRA Sports 910AM
Away: KTLK AM 1150
XM Radio Channel: XM 206
Online Radio Broadcast Stream: NHL Game Radio: Kings at Coyotes
Online Webcast: Los Angeles at Phoenix


Up next for the Kings: Monday at Phoenix

Despite losing their last two games, the Kings have earned points in their last six games. The Coyotes continue to play well, even with questions about the front office and ownership.

Update: The Kings have lost their last two games in shootouts but have earned standings points in six straight games (4-0-2). Goaltender Jonathan Quick will start his ninth straight game, a streak that's likely to continue until the team's five-game trip this month. Right wing Justin Williams is scheduled to return after missing five games because of a lower-body injury. He will rejoin Ryan Smyth and Anze Kopitar on the first line. Teddy Purcell was moved to the fourth line with Raitis Ivanans and Brad Richardson but will still get some power-play time. The Coyotes, ignoring the turmoil surrounding their ownership and future, have sustained their strong start by winning three straight games.

-- Helene Elliott


KINGS (8-4-2) at COYOTES (9-4-0)

Last 10: Los Angeles 5-3-2; Phoenix 7-3-0

Season series: This is already the third meeting of the season between the Pacific Division's biggest early success stories. Each team has won on its opponent's home ice: the Coyotes 6-3 at Staples Center on opening night behind a pair of goals by Radim Vrbata, and the Kings 5-3 at Jobing.com Arena just nine days ago as Jarret Stoll and Dustin Brown each scored twice.

Big story: The Coyotes have the best goals-against average in the League at 1.92, but they've compiled it at the expense of teams other than the Kings, who have eight goals in two games against them and rank eighth overall in offense at 3.29 goals per game.

Team Scope:

Kings: Despite losing back-to-back 2-1 games in shootouts, Los Angeles is 4-0-2 in its last six. Still, coach Terry Murray would probably prefer that the Kings start taking care of business in the regulation 60 minutes or overtime, rather than let the outcome be decided by the penalty-shot competition.

"It's a useless part of the game, the shootout, but the fans love it," Murray said. "For that, I like it, because the fans are excited. They're standing up and waiting for the next shooter. It is good for the game, but boy, do I hate it."

Coyotes: On the flip side, Phoenix has won both of its shootouts this season, including a 3-2 decision over Anaheim on Saturday that extended its winning streak to three in a row. Goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov made 32 saves and stopped all three shootout attempts by the Ducks as he finished October with eight wins and the Coyotes tied a franchise record with their ninth win of the opening month.

Who's hot: Scott Parse made his NHL debut for Los Angeles in the last game against Phoenix and has three points in four games, including his first goal against Vancouver. Goalie Jonathan Quick has allowed just four goals in his last three starts with a .944 save percentage.

Phoenix forward Vernon Fiddler has a four-game points streak, compiling two goals, five points and a plus-4 rating over that span. Daniel Winnik has a goal, five points and a plus-4 rating in a four-game points streak of his own. Bryzgalov is coming off his third shutout of the season, which already ties his career high.

Injury report: The Kings hope to get top-line forward Justin Williams (nine points in nine games) back from a lower-body injury. The Coyotes remain without defenseman Kurt Sauer (head).

Stat pack: Phoenix captain Shane Doan scored twice in the last meeting with Los Angeles and has put up career numbers of 25 goals and 60 points in 72 games against the Kings. In the Coyotes' first six home games, the Kings are the only opponent to have managed more than two goals.

Puck drop: Neither of these clubs has sniffed the postseason since 2002, but each racked up 18 points in October to place in the top five in the Western Conference. They don't face each other again until mid-December, and only twice more after that, but each one is a potential four-point swing in the standings.

-- Brian Hunter, NHL.com


PROBABLE LINES
Los Angeles:
Smyth - Kopitar - Williams
Parse - Stoll - Simmonds
Frolov - Handzus - Brown
Ivanans - Richardson - Purcell

Scuderi - Doughty
Johnson - O'Donnell
Drewiske - Greene

Probable Starter: Jonathan Quick

Phoenix:
Upshall - Hanzal - Doan
Fiddler - Winnik - Pyatt
Prucha - Lang - Vrbata
Bissonnette - Lombardi - Korpikoski

Vandermeer - Aucoin
Michalek - Lepisto
Yandle - Jovanovski

Probable Starter: Ilya Bryzgalov


***Credit: LA Times, Kings fan site, Kings.NHL.com, Coyotes.NHL.com

[lakingsfan19]

Nice Harrold is out! It's about time! Now we need Purcell to be sent down and bring Clune up and all will be good!

[ScottRasner]

Good luck tonight, guys. I have a feeling this is going to be a good one.

[lakingsfan19]

Originally Posted by ScottRasner

Good luck tonight, guys. I have a feeling this is going to be a good one.

You too! I hope the kings coach Murray lets LA drop the mitts! He has been acting like a pansy lately. If he does Ivanans vs Biz could be a good one.

[Chaddog13]

Originally Posted by lakingsfan19

Nice Harrold is out! It's about time! Now we need Purcell to be sent down and bring Clune up and all will be good!

Didn't know Harold is out of the line-up tonite.. Nice! I agree, dump Purcell next....


Crossing fingers Murray lets Ivanans off the leash tonight....

[lakingsfan19]

Originally Posted by Chaddog13

Didn't know Harold is out of the line-up tonite.. Nice! I agree, dump Purcell next....


Crossing fingers Murray lets Ivanans off the leash tonight....

yup and Purcell has been demoted to the fourth line. How Richardson and Parse have been playing, Purcell better step it up or go back to Manchester.

[mike56]

do NOT cheap shot doaner or there will be HELL to pay.

[lakingsfan19]

Originally Posted by mike56

do NOT cheap shot doaner or there will be HELL to pay.

From Doan, right?

Because Yandle was far from putting hell on anyone.

I would like to see Jack Johnson vs Doan rematch!

[NickDoh]

honestly purcell had a good game 40234798752100 days ago or whenever the kings played last. a lot of hustle every time out and a point i believe. i dont think hes going anywhere soon. and hes still going to get powerplay time i would think. if that goes away then id put him on monarch watch. for now though, hes on the fourth because parse is showing up and williams is back in. we'll see out it all works out.

i want clune too, but i dont see them rushing purcell out the door too quickly.

[TheFatWorm]

Originally Posted by LAKINGSNUT

Phoenix:
Upshall - Hanzal - Doan
Fiddler - Winnik - Pyatt
Prucha - Lang - Vrbata
Bissonnette - Lombardi - Korpikoski

Vandermeer - Aucoin
Michalek - Lepisto
Yandle - Jovanovski

Probable Starter: Ilya Bryzgalov


***Credit: LA Times, Kings fan site, Kings.NHL.com, Coyotes.NHL.com

Lebarbera is getting the start. (http://coyotes.nhl.com/)

I think Mueller might get back into the lineup tonight.

[dumby]

Originally Posted by TheFatWorm

Lebarbera is getting the start. (http://coyotes.nhl.com/)

I think Mueller might get back into the lineup tonight.

yep, and someone said he is scratching prucha or biz.

[lakingsfan19]

Originally Posted by NickDoh

honestly purcell had a good game 40234798752100 days ago or whenever the kings played last. a lot of hustle every time out and a point i believe. i dont think hes going anywhere soon. and hes still going to get powerplay time i would think. if that goes away then id put him on monarch watch. for now though, hes on the fourth because parse is showing up and williams is back in. we'll see out it all works out.

i want clune too, but i dont see them rushing purcell out the door too quickly.

Yeah, I actually think the fourth line could cause some trouble now. Richardson has been playing good and throw a guy like purcell on there and they might beable to scratch one here or there.

Plus you can always bring Clune up and send Harrold down and not have to send Purcell anywhere. looks like sense they got Jones, Harrold is no longer needed.

[lakingsfan19]

Another good game, Kings were dominating the first period and all it took was one shot by the yotes to tie the game up. Hopefully the kings come back out and control the play again, hope the yotes don't wake up after that goal at the end of the period.

[ScottRasner]

The attendance is absolutely horrible. I cant even believe to see the arena like that.

Hanzal=Goal

[lakingsfan19]

Damn that Ice must be tilted. Night and day for the yotes.. They controlled that period, but the kings now get one late. I wonder if we can barrow Doan to give us a talk inbetween periods, like he gave the yotes. 3-2 yotes, third should be a good one, lets see if the late goal by LA now gets them going again.

Yeah I was wondering about how many empty seats there were. Is it just the lower bowl (where it cost more)? They haven't shown the upper part, I don't blame them if they make no mention of attend for tonight.