NHL Update - Phoenix Coyotes win 2-1 against the
Los Angeles Kings in the second split squad match
The second of the two split squad matches between the Kings and the Coyotes was hosted by the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena. The 21st game of the preseason was not a high goal scoring encounter like the other game,
but it was still worth watching. This match had almost half the attendance than that of the other game.
When the first period started, the Los Angeles Kings came up with some early shots. This happened only during the first part of the period; the latter part contained very few shots by either team. On the other hand, the Phoenix
Coyotes came up with good potential goal scoring attempts but failed to convert any. Out of the 10 goal attempts made by the Phoenix Coyotes, none were able to get past the goaltender.
The first period ended goalless and this led to Los Angeles Kings captain, Jarret Stoll, saying “Though this period was goalless, we will be looking to score in the next half. We hope that the other split team records a win too
so that we can make it two in one night.”
With a mission ahead of them, the Los Angeles Kings got on the field and immediately made an impact on the game. The Los Angeles Kings scored in the 12th second of the 2nd period after Alexei Ponikarovsky
scored from a 13 feet via a spectacular wrist shot.
This was the only goal of the period and at the end of the 2nd
period the score was 1-0 in favour of the Kings. During the course of that period, the Los Angeles Kings came up with a total of 13 shots out of which one was converted into a goal. The Phoenix Coyotes on the other hand came up with 8 attempts on goal
out of which none were successful.
At the end of the second period, the Phoenix Coyotes captain Shane Doan said, “First we will be looking to level the score rather than of thinking to win the game at the time when we are trailing 1-0. Once we do this, then we will
be looking to win the match.”
The third period saw the Los Angeles Kings take more of a defensive approach to the game and therefore they only managed to make seven attempts on the Coyotes’ goal, out of which none were successful. The game seemed to heading
in the hands of the Los Angeles Kings when suddenly a fast break resulted in Kyle Wellwood scoring from a close range 9 feet wrist shot with less than two minutes left to play. The home fans jumped in joy and there was noise everywhere.
The third and final period ended on 1-1 which meant that the game would be heading into overtime.
Before overtime began, Michael Stone of the Phoenix Coyotes said, “Though I am playing in the defence, I will be looking to help the team in offence. I would also like to thank the crowd that is backing us.”
Overtime saw the Phoenix Coyotes carrying the momentum they had during the last part of the third period. They were not only dominating the proceedings by pin point accurate passing but also formed a lock down in defence. During
the course of the overtime period, the Los Angeles Kings came up with no shots that to the amazement of many. On the other hand, the Phoenix Coyotes managed to come up with 4 shots and scored in the fourth minute. The captain of the Phoenix Coyotes Shane Doan
led from the front scoring from a distance of 9 feet thanks to a perfect pass by Michael Stone. This resulted in the Phoenix Coyotes winning the game 2-1 and at the end of the day making it a double over the Los Angeles Kings.
The Phoenix Coyotes captain Shane Doan said “A win is always sweet but being the winning goal scorer makes the win all the more special.”
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