Global Series Game Thread – Kings vs. Coyotes, 9/23

Los Angeles Kings 3, Arizona Coyotes 2
FINAL
Game Preview
WATCH: NHL Network, ESPN+
SOG: LAK – 35 ARI – 31
PP: LAK – 1/5 ARI – 1/3

Third Period
20:00 – Third period is a go! David Rittich between the pipes for the final period here in Melbourne.
19:20 – 1:17 of 4-on-3 power-play time for the Kings. Dubois, Fiala, Kempe and Spence will be out there for the Kings, trailing by a goal.
19:09 – LAK Goal – Kings tie the game through Kempe, who buries a one-timer off a feed from Fiala. Goals in both games this weekend for Kempe, assists in both games for Fiala. 1-1, early third period.
17:01 – Kempe nearly does it again, partial breakaway, dekes back to the forehand but just can’t get the final touch on it. Dangerous as always from #9.
13:20 – Still knotted at 1 at the media timeout. Have been impressed once again by Jordan Spence here today. Stating his case for the RD3 spot with his play here this weekend. Still a ways to go and Brandt Clarke will make the conversation difficult. Really strong start from Spence though.
12:27 – LAK Goal – Jacob Moverare with a howitzer to put the Kings ahead. Absolute blast of a one-timer off an assist from Gavrikov. Good for Mo. Heck of a guy, good moment for him.
5:15 – Almost a sweet goal from Danault, but his forehanded effort back across the face of goal just nicks off the crossbar and goes over the net. Kings are generating chances at 5-on-5, no doubt about it. Little more polish as camp goes on and won’t be any problems scoring goals.
2:50 – Moverare still making plays! Slides his way down the right wall, gets a pass through the crease that narrowly evades sticks in front for the deflection. Good stuff from 43 today.
1:52 – Trevor Moore gets a breakaway chance but hits the post and out on the far side. Chances are there, aplenty, just a matter of time.
0:53 – Massive save from Rittich. With the goaltender pulled for Arizona, Rittich slides from left-to-right and denies Nick Schmaltz, who looked to have a lot of net to shoot out. Big Save Dave, so they say.
0:40 – LAK Goal – Kempe picks the empty net from distance. 3-1, multi-goal game for Kempe.
0:16 – ARI Goal – Late Coyotes goal brings us to 3-2. Looked like Dermott on a brief replay.

Second Period
20:00 – Back at it for the second, Kings trail by a goal as we get back underway.
16:20 – Valamaki rings the post through traffic, after a nice feed from Maccelli. Big save by Talbot seconds later on Hayton, who tried to go between the legs from close range. Arizona with a bit more of the control in the first quarter of the middle stanza.
11:49 – Third PP chance of the night for the Kings midway through the second period. Would like to see Kaliyev unload one here. Hasn’t had one in the wheelhouse thus far.
9:47 – Second unit understandably needs some time to click. Some of the pieces have been together, but with Arvidsson skating on the other unit, they’re adjusting to not having his playmaking abilities and having five left-handed shots. Lots of special teams work to come upon the return to LA.
6:12 – Kings take an offensive zone penalty after what was arguably their best shift of the period. More reps for the PK aint a bad thing, right?
2:12 – Kings kill two penalties successively. A new wrinkle in preseason – Kevin Fiala on the PK. His speed could be an asset towards the end of penalty kills to take advantage of tired legs.
0:05 – Terrific from Talbot to make a save on a five-hole bound shot to keep it a 1-0 game very late in the second period. Swallows up the resulting rebound as well, drawing a couple sticks and a large scrum. Will play 4-on-4 to open the third.
0:00 – Still 1-0 Coyotes. Solid looks both ways in the second, though Arizona probably had the better of the chances. 20 minutes more to play in Melbourne, with David Rittich Expected to take over between the pipes.

First Period
20:00 – Game 2 in Melbourne is underway!
19:29 – Arizona takes a tripping minor on the first shift of the game. We’ll get a look at a Kings PP unit that won’t include Kopitar or Doughty. Spence – Danault – Byfield – Kaliyev – Dubois will be the first unit.
16:15 – Good sense on that shift of what Dubois can do on the offensive zone. Used his size very well behind the net, drove the the front but had the awareness and ability to spin onto his forehand and get a shot away.
11:47 – Good tempo again from LA at the start. Similar to yesterday, the shots have been tilted towards the Kings offensive zone. Solid couple of looks for Byfield, including a partial breakaway, but no dice.
10:10 – First look tonight at the Kings PK. Todd McLellan candid last night it wasn’t good enough, but there also hasn’t been the required reps and work put in. In-game work isn’t a bad thing though in the preseason.
8:42 – ARI Goal – Barrett Hayton opens the scoring with a power-plays goal. Collected at the goal line, walked to the front and finishes top glove for the goal. 1-0 Coyotes.
5:57 – LA trails at the final media timeout of the first period. Talbot has been solid, good save going left-to-right just before the break. Solid start for Grundstrom as well – simple, physical, hardworking – the most noticeable thus far among the 6 skaters who checked in.
1:10 – Said it yesterday and I’ll say it again. So good to see Trevor Moore looking like himself on this trip. Tough injuries last season, but he’s been buzzing all weekend in Australia. Hope to see that continue.
0:00 – Coyotes lead 1-0 at the break. Thought LAK dominated yesterday’s first period, today was a bit more even. Kings the better team at 5-on-5, Coyotes controlled special teams.

The Global Series wraps up today, Insiders! The Kings and Coyotes will complete the back-to-back set at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne before departing for Southern California tomorrow morning. Expect to see several lineup changes for the Kings today, both in terms of personnel and alignment. For starters, all seven players who did not dress last night are expected to play today, including goaltender Cam Talbot, who should get the start between the pipes. Six new skaters are also likely to feature, including four forwards and two defensemen. Today’s alignment is posted below.

As it was yesterday, today’s game will be on NHL Network and ESPN+ for fans in the US. Also like yesterday, Nick Nickson will have the call on play-by-play with Jim Fox as the analyst and Daryl Evans as the rinkside reporter. For those who can’t watch, the Live Thread here will be updated with important events throughout the game as well.

Today’s Kings Lineup –
Fiala – Dubois – Kaliyev
Moore – Danault – Grundstrom
Byfield – Turcotte – Kempe
Fagemo – Anderson-Dolan – Doty

Anderson – Bjornfot
Gavrikov – Moverare
Englund – Spence

Talbot
Rittich