Anze Kopitar’s postgame thoughts…
(on the Kings’ start to the game…)
KOPITAR: “It was huge. Every time you come out of the gates strong and you score your first goal, it seems like the game gets a little bit easier. I thought the first period was pretty good. We were putting everything on net. It was part of the game plan.’’
It’s not exactly traditional hockey weather here in Arizona — north of 100 degrees — and things will be heated up on the ice. It’s the Kings against the Phoenix Coyotes in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. All the action is on NBC Sports Network and on 1150-AM, 570-AM and affiliates, with all the game updates here as well, along with a live chat with Jim Fox…
THIRD PERIOD
In goal: It’s still Quick vs. Smith.
Kings 3, Coyotes 2: The Kings took the lead for a third time on Dustin Brown’s goal 2:11 into the period. Brown took a perfect outlet pass from Slava Voynov, got a step on Rostislav Klesla and took the puck to the net. Brown fired a shot from just inside the right circle and beat Smith. Justin Williams also picked up an assist.
Kings 4, Coyotes 2: Dwight King scored an empty-net goal with 48 seconds remain to clinch the victory. Willie Mitchell picked up an assist.
This is Game 1 in the best-of-seven, Western Conference Finals series between the Kings and the Phoenix Coyotes. In the regular season, the Kings won twice in regulation and once in overtime while the Coyotes won once in regulation, once in overtime and once in a shootout. In the regular-season series, the Kings went 2-for-17 on the power play while the Coyotes went 4-for-20 on the power play. This is the Kings’ first trip to the conference finals since 1993 and it is the Coyotes’ first-ever trip to the conference finals. The Coyotes are without suspended forward Raffi Torres and injured defenseman Adrian Aucoin. So far in Phoenix’s playoff run, goalie Mike Smith has recorded two shutouts and has allowed two or fewer goals in eight of his 11 games. In the postseason, Antoine Vermette leads the Coyotes with five goals and nine points, while Keith Yandle has a team-high seven assists. For the latest on the Coyotes, check out the coverage from The Arizona Republic, followed by the possible lineups for the Coyotes and the Kings…
The Arizona Republic’s Coyotes coverage
—–
COYOTES LINEUP
Ray Whitney-Martin Hanzal-Radim Vrbata
Mikkel Boedker-Antoine Vermette-Shane Doan
Taylor Pyatt-Boyd Gordon-Lauri Korpikoski
Kyle Chipchura-Daymond Langkow-Gilbert Brule
Keith Yandle-Derek Morris
Oliver Ekman-Larsson-Michal Rozsival
Rostislav Klesla-David Schlemko
Mike Smith
Jason LaBarbera
There are plenty of differences between Jonathan Quick and Mike Smith. Just not in their statistics. In the regular season, Quick had a 1.95 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage, while Smith had a 2.21 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage. So far in this postseason, Quick has a 1.55 goals-against average and a .949 save percentage, while Smith has a 1.77 goals-against average and a .948 save percentage. Over seven months, the two goalies have saved almost exactly the same percentage of shots. Jarret Stoll and Phoenix coach Dave Tippett talked about the matchup and the strengths of both goalies…
STOLL: “(Smith) covers a lot of net. He plays big. He’s very athletic, too. He’s obviously a good athlete. We’re going to have to shoot as many possible shots at him, get second-chance opportunities, make him work, make him move side to side. It’s going to have to be a pretty good shot to beat him clean. He’s pretty much like our goaltender. Everybody knows that. We have to make it hard on him. Like any good goalie, make him work a lot, make it tough by getting a lot of shots, be around the crease, get all three guys ending up at the crease, you know, be hungry.’’
It’s been a light morning in Arizona. The Phoenix Coyotes did not have a morning skate, and the Kings opted for a team meeting followed by a skate for the scratched players. Incidentally, goalie Martin Jones has made the trip with the team to participate in practice. It’s kind of full circle for the Manchester Monarchs’ goalies. Jeff Zatkoff started the season with the Kings, when he accompanied them to Europe as the third goalie, and now Jones is getting a taste as the third goalie in the playoffs. Outside, it’s still relatively quiet but no doubt things will get heated up later (literally and figuratively).
Also, a reminder that Nick Nickson and Daryl Evans will have the radio call, and they will also have a postgame “Kings Talk” call-in show from the arena. The game and show will be simulcast on 570-AM and 1150-AM, plus the usual affiliates. Bob Miller and Jim Fox will also have the postgame “Kings Live” show on Fox Sports West, and Jim will be joining us for an in-game chat here.
A very happy Mother’s Day to all the hockey moms… It’s finally a game day in the Western Conference. The Kings have become Los Angeles’ de facto NFL team, because they play once a week, on Sundays. Well, that will change after today, in what figures to be a tough series. The joke around here has been that the series will set the NHL record for highest average temperature. It’s supposed to top 100 today in Glendale, Ariz. Here’s how things look this morning, through what is quite possibly the dirtiest window in North America…
In 24 hours, either the Kings or the Phoenix Coyotes will be in an unfamiliar situation: trailing in a playoff series. The Kings jumped out to 3-0 leads over Vancouver and St. Louis. Phoenix won Game 1 against Chicago, lost Game 2 and then won the next two games. Against Nashville, Phoenix won the first two games and won the series in five games. So far in this postseason, the team that has won Game 1 has gone on to win nine of the 12 series. The Kings and Coyotes are both 2-0 in Game 1 this postseason, so clearly something has to give. Coyotes coach Dave Tippett certainly will be putting a big emphasis on Game 1, but said he didn’t think it would be the be-all, end-all of the series.
TiPPETT: “Well, I’m not going to worry about after Game 1 till that one’s done, and we’ll see how that one goes. (In) series, you have to make adjustments, momentum-wise, tactical-wise. You kind of read and react to what’s happening. If you looked at the last series, after Game 1, we won, but we weren’t very happy. We went to Game 2 and knew we had to be better. So every series is different, every game is different. I think with both teams having a bit of a layoff here, both teams are going to be anxious to get going. I think Game 1, there’s always a little bit of a feeling-out process. I think everybody will be glad to get Game 1 going and get through it, then we’ll read and react from there.”
The Kings will host Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals on Thursday, May 17, at 6 p.m., and Game 4 on Sunday, May 20, at noon. Game 5 would be Tuesday, May 22, Game 6 would be Thursday, May 24 and Game 7 would be Sunday, May 26. The times of the final three games has yet to be set. Here’s the full rundown…
Game 1 at Phoenix — Sunday, 5 p.m. Pacific — NBC Sports Network, TSN
Game 2 at Phoenix — Tuesday, 6 p.m. Pacific — NBC Sports Network, TSN
Game 3 at Staples Center — Thursday, May 17, at 6 p.m. Pacific — NBC Sports Network, TSN
Game 4 at Staples Center — Sunday, May 20, at noon Pacific — NBC, CBC
*Game 5 at Phoenix — Tuesday, May 22, 6 p.m. — NBC Sports Network, CBC
*Game 6 at Staples Center — Thursday, May 24, 6 p.m. — NBC Sports Network, CBC
*Game 7 at Phoenix — Saturday, May 26, 5 p.m. — NBC Sports Network, CBC
A very important early note for those planning to attend Game 4 is that the Amgen Tour of California bike race will be finishing at L.A. Live on Sunday at the same time people will be arriving for the game. Please plan accordingly. The Kings will be issuing some type of traffic advisory, and Staples Center will open at 9 a.m. for early arrivers.
As the playoffs go deeper, the media sessions get more formal. Today, each team brought in three players, as well as the head coaches, to face questions in a podium setting. Coyotes general manager Don Maloney also answered questions, but Dean Lombardi did not show up, even though it’s supposed to be a mandatory session. Rather than break up all the quotes, here’s what the Coyotes players said this afternoon about the start of the series against the Kings…
—–
Q. Shane, just a quick question. There you are in the cafeteria after 15 years, you’re in the finals, taking all this in. Your impressions.
SHANE DOAN: It’s been pretty cool. We’ve enjoyed the run. When it hasn’t worked, you’ve been told that it can’t. It’s nice to be able to say that it can.
We’re pretty excited as a group – very excited.
Q. Mike, I was looking your name up on Wikipedia.
MIKE SMITH: How many came up (laughter)?
Q. It said you’re the only goalie in history to get a shoutout, get in a fight, and score a goal in the same game.
MIKE SMITH: No, false information. I scored. I got a shutout and a win, but I never got in a fight. The Gordie Howe hat trick is out.
Q. East Coast?
MIKE SMITH: Yeah, first year as pro. I don’t like to fight (laughter).
Mercifully, the time for talk is almost over. After almost a week, the Kings and Phoenix Coyotes will be back in action tomorrow for Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. Both teams practiced today at Jobing.com Arena, and with the 5 p.m. start tomorrow, neither team figures to have much activity in the morning, at least on the ice. For the Kings, there’s at least a little more normalcy. They’re on the road, in a hotel, and it’s starting to feel like playoff hockey again. Rob Scuderi said the Kings are ready for a game.
SCUDERI: “Yeah, I think I can’t speak for everyone, but just for myself. It’s nice to just get back to the routine a little bit. While the season is still going on, you want to keep it going on, you don’t want too
long a break. It’s nice to have a bit of recuperation time. But after seven days, I think we’re all pretty much ready to play.’’
In terms of travel, and the schedule, things worked out fairly well for the Kings. With a flight of only one hour, and an early evening game Sunday, the Kings were able to stay home until this morning but still squeeze in a practice at the arena before the start of the series. As Darryl Sutter pointed out, it’s also a chance for players such as Dwight King and Jordan Nolan, who have never played a regular-season or playoff game at Jobing.com Arena, or Jeff Carter, who managed to miss Phoenix during the regular season with Columbus and the Kings, to get acclimated.
Kings TV analyst Jim Fox will be participating in a live chat on LAKings.com today, from 5-6 p.m. Pacific time, taking questions about the upcoming Western Conference Finals. Click below for the link…
The Kings are on the ice for their final practice before the start of the Western Conference Finals. Here’s a look inside Jobing.com Arena as the Kings came on the ice this afternoon, and a look inside the arena…
After the late-morning flight, the Kings are scheduled to be on the ice at Jobing.com today for a 3 p.m. practice. Because of the 5 p.m. start tomorrow, neither team is scheduled to hold a full-team morning skate. These teams are very familiar with each other, but the Western Conference Finals no doubt will bring some surprises. How do you think the series will go?
Scoring depth has been a critical aspect of this postseason for both teams. The Kings have had at least one goal from 15 different players (11 forwards, four defensemen), while the Coyotes have had at least one goal from 13 different players (10 forwards, three defensemen). Contributions from the third and fourth lines have been important in the first two rounds for both teams. If the theory goes, as Justin Williams presents, that teams’ top two lines often cancel each other out, then the biggest goals are the ones that are hardest to predict. Williams, and Phoenix coach Dave Tippett, talked about the depth on their respective teams…
WILLIAMS: “Certainly. I think you look at lines three and four, and everybody is outscoring their opposition. Our third line has scored more than (Vancouver and St. Louis’) third line. Our fourth line has scored more than their fourth line, that we’ve played so far. We’re going to need solid contributions from everybody. That’s what the playoffs is. Sometimes the first couple lines offset each other, and it’s the so-called unsung heroes who get the stuff done. That’s probably not going to change. There are guys who are going to step up and score big goals.”
Who has the best “playoff beard” on the Kings? There’s a runaway winner, but watch below as Colin Fraser — who certainly will have a second career in TV if he chooses — interviews teammates to get their thoughts. Also, Darryl Sutter was asked about the prodigious playoff beard of Dustin Penner, and give a tidbit into his own past…
SUTTER: “I remember trying to grow a mustache when I was about 20, and how funny it looked. I imagine he’s had a beard since he was 4 or 5, right?”
Question: Was that your first and last attempt?
SUTTER: “No. That used to be the thing. It wasn’t beards back then. It mustaches or sideburns. Because, quite honestly, there were a lot of teams that didn’t allow — you couldn’t have hair that was (more than) an inch below your helmet, things like that. So it was sort of like what you see in baseball, where you weren’t allowed to grow mustaches. The Yankees’ rule, and things like that. It’s a good rule. I used to take Mike Ricci’s hair… I used to tease Mike Ricci when he would sit on the bench, and his hair would be below his (jersey) nameplate. I would take his hair and (push it to the side) and go, `Oh…Ricci.”’
As it was in the second round against St. Louis, the battle of the centers figures to be an important one for the Kings in the Western Conference Finals against Phoenix. The Kings will line up Anze Kopitar, Mike Richards and Jarret Stoll against Phoenix’s Martin Hanzal, Antoine Vermette and Boyd Gordon. So far in this postseason, Hanzal has three goals in eight games, and Vermette has five goals in 11 games. (The Coyotes, it should be noted, have been a strong faceoff team as well.) Richards has been known, for a few years, as a solid two-way center, and Kopitar’s reputation in that area is growing as well.
SUTTER: “I think, from a statistics standpoint, he’s been really good, not just for the playoffs but probably for the last three months. He’s been a point-per-game guy, and that’s sort of what you want. … I think he is a complete player. I said that when they were talking about the Selke (Trophy) and the Lady Byng and all that. How could Kopitar not be in that? He’s a big part of the penalty-killing minutes on a good team. He takes big faceoffs, plays against top players, plays against checkers, plays a lot of minutes. So, I don’t think it’s something that has just, all of a sudden, come about. That’s part of his game.”
Continue reading ‘Kopitar, centers face another challenge’ »
Before the full-team practice this morning, the Kings had their two power-play units on the ice, going through drills against four defensive prospects and third-string goalie Martin Jones. In their first two playoff games, against Vancouver, the Kings went 3-for-12 on the power play. In the last seven game, against Vancouver and St. Louis, the Kings are 1-for-35 on the power play. Of course, Vancouver, St. Louis and Phoenix all bring different looks and challenges on the penalty kill, but the Kings know they need some improvement in their power play. Darryl Sutter said the emphasis has been on getting the defensemen — particularly Drew Doughty, Alec Martinez and Slava Voynov — more involved in power-play production.
SUTTER: “We work on it almost every day, in some part of our (practice). You might not notice it, but there are parts of it that you can use, always. The big part of it, for us, is getting our defensemen to be shooters. We’re using three young guys, and it’s a skill that they’re developing. It’s not like you, all of a sudden, have a great shot. You have to learn how to do it, and they’re going to have to learn under pressure.”
Power-play success isn’t always a necessity for a successful playoff team. Consider that last year’s champions, the Boston Bruins, were 14th out of 16 playoff teams in power-play percentage (11.4). Then again, the Bruins were also a superb 5-on-5 team. The Kings, as Mike Richards pointed out today, know that getting timely power-play goals would give them a big boost.
Continue reading ‘Kings, Coyotes talk special-teams matchup’ »
These Kings were built, in large part, by general manager Dean Lombardi, but who put in place the philosophies by which Lombardi operates? The following two pieces, from NHL.com, do a great job of examining Lombardi’s major influences and his core beliefs in terms of building an organization…
Kings GM Lombardi feels indebted to pair of mentors
Q&A: Lombardi talks Quick, Sutter and Kings’ success
The first story centers about Lombardi’s relationship with Bobby Clarke and Lou Lamoriello, and notes that Bob Pulford has also been a major influence. Pulford’s fingerprints are everywhere. Pulford is a former Kings coach. He is also Lombardi’s father-in-law and was the coach and general manager in Chicago when Darryl Sutter played for the Blackhawks in the 1980s. Pulford’s strong personality has had a long-lasting impact, and Pulford is regularly in touch with Lombardi and Sutter.
SUTTER: “I named my daughter after Pully. I missed the morning practice, while she was being born. His name is Robert Jesse Pulford, so I phoned him and, long story, and he said, `It’s OK if you’re late, but name it after me.’ So I called her Jessie.”
The Galaxy arrived in Montreal today in advance of tomorrow’s Major League Soccer game against the expansion Montreal Impact. Beckham, always a media magnet, was asked by a Montreal media member how it felt to come to a hockey town and try to convert fans to soccer. Beckham answered, “I think we’re the hockey town at the moment.”
Ouch.
After some laughter, from Beckham and the media, here’s what Beckham followed with: “Sorry, I don’t want to offend anyone, but… Yeah, it’s great. It’s exciting in L.A. at the moment, with the Kings. They’re playing so well and doing so well, and it’s exciting. Obviously, I know Montreal is a big hockey town as well. I don’t want to say too much more. But it’s exciting to come here as a soccer player.”
Will Jeff Carter be an “X-factor” in the Western Conference Finals? A key part of the Kings’ attack, both as a second-line winger and as a part of the power play, Carter returned for the start of the playoffs after he missed the end of the regular season with an ankle injury. Carter had two assists in Game 1 against Vancouver, then didn’t record a point in the other four games. In the second round against St. Louis, Carter scored a goal in Game 2 and had an assist in Game 3. His ice time, coupled with the fact that he hasn’t missed any practice time, suggests that Carter’s ankle is no longer a prohibitive issue, but in terms of offensive production, clearly the Kings could get more from Carter. After practice today, Carter was asked for a self-assessment of his postseason so far…
CARTER: “Up and down, I guess. I felt like, the last series, I was starting to get back to where I want to be. Obviously, I’ve still got a ways to go, but I’m feeling better every day.”
Continue reading ‘Carter’s postseason has been `up and down’’ »
LATEST NEWS
LA Kings Insider
LA Kings Official