Kings vs. Coyotes: looking back

This will be the first-ever playoff series between the Kings and the Phoenix Coyotes. It’s also the Coyotes’ first trip to the conference finals. Even in their previous incarnation — the Winnipeg Jets — the franchise got to the second round of the NHL playoff twice but lost both times. 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. Here’s a brief recap of each of this season’s games…

Oct. 20 at Jobing.com Arena: Kings 2, Coyotes 0
Jonathan Quick made 28 saves as he recorded his second consecutive shutout and his 100th career NHL victory. The Kings recorded only 22 shots on goal, but got second-period goals from Dustin Brown (on the power play) and Kyle Clifford

Oct. 29 at Jobing.com Arena: Coyotes 3, Kings 2 (overtime)
Daymond Langkow’s shot deflected off a stick and beat Jonathan Quick 4:16 into overtime to give the Coyotes the win. After a scoreless first period, Mike Richards scored 2:58 into the second period to give the Kings the lead, but they lost it on two second-period goals by Radim Vrbata. Anze Kopitar tied the game 6:30 into the third period. Quick stopped 30 of 33 shots while Mike Smith stopped 37 of 39 shots. There were no power-play goals.

Dec. 26 at Staples Center: Kings 4, Coyotes 3
Facing former Kings goalie Jason LaBarbera, the Kings got unlikely goals from Rob Scuderi, Brad Richardson and Willie Mitchell in this back-and-forth game. The Kings led 1-0, then 2-1, then 3-2 before Dustin Brown scored 7:06 into the third period to give the Kings a 4-2 lead. Jonathan Quick stopped 26 of 29 shots. Simon Gagne suffered his concussion in this game and missed the rest of the regular season. There were no power-play goals.

Jan. 5 at Staples Center: Kings 1, Coyotes 0 (overtime)
Jonathan Quick and Mike Smith matched each other, save-for-save, for 60 minutes before Drew Doughty scored 38 seconds into overtime to give the Kings the win. Coyotes coach Dave Tippett called for goalie interference on the goal, but none was called. Quick stopped all 22 shots he faced, while Smith stopped 27 of 28.

Feb. 16 at Staples Center: Coyotes 1, Kings 0
Mike Smith set a feisty tone early, when he got into a first-period, post-whistle altercation with Anze Kopitar, and the Kings couldn’t beat Smith. Radim Vrbata’s power-play goal with 4:01 remaining in the second period held up as the game’s only goal. Smith stopped all 28 shots he faced, while Quick stopped 20 of 21.

Feb. 21 at Jobing.com Arena: Coyotes 5, Kings 4 (shootout)
In a wild game, the Kings led 3-0 after the first period, but the Coyotes got some life when Radim Vrbata scored a power-play goal 50 seconds into the third period. Shane Doan scored two power-play goals in the second period — sandwiched around Justin Williams’ power-play goal — to make it 4-3 headed into the third period. Vrbata’s second goal, on the power play with 2:27 remaining in regulation, sent the game to overtime and then a shootout, in which the Coyotes prevailed by beating Jonathan Quick twice in three shots. The Kings went 1-for-3 on the power play and 4-for-7 on the penalty kill. Mike Smith and Quick each stopped 25 of 29 shots.