Los Angeles Kings looking forward to war of the Goalies in Western Conference Finals -NHL Playoffs
Los Angeles Kings might be the hottest team in the 2012 National Hockey League (NHL) Stanley Cup Playoffs at the moment but they know that going up against Phoenix Coyotes will be no easy task.
Mike Smith and Phoenix Coyotes are similar to Los Angeles in only one major aspect and that is great goaltending.
With Jonathan Quick on one end and Mike Smith in front of the net on the other, both teams will have to devise strategies that will bring the goalies to their knees but seeing how Quick and Smith are performing like divine entities, Phoenix and Los Angeles
will have to work for their money.
"They're feeling really good about their goalie, and we're feeling really good about our goalie," Los Angeles’ Anze Kopitar said. "It's a matter of cracking their goaltender."
Being a smart goalie requires observing the opposition and knowing how they attack. Jonathan Quick did exactly that and more by studying the way Mike Smith is playing as well. Seeing how their defence is playing extremely well, it could be a problem for
Los Angeles, which is a more defensive focused team.
"They've got a quick team," Quick said. "I was watching their game last night and I feel like they got a lot of speed coming in on the rush. They always get four guys joining the rush, they always have the D jumping up. They're playing with a lot of confidence
right now. Mike Smith is playing as well as anyone in the League right now in net, and it's going to be a challenge."
Los Angeles showed that they are determined to win the cup when they ousted 2011 Stanley Cup finalists, the Vancouver Canucks in just five games and then eliminated St. Louis Blues in four games straight.
Going in the Western Conference Finals for the first time in 19 years is big for the Kings. They need to play every aspect of their game in top form if they are planning on getting past Phoenix Coyotes since it will come down to a war between two of the
hottest goaltenders in the league right now.
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