Phoenix Coyotes look to pile more misery on Los Angeles Kings - NHL Preview
The Phoenix Coyotes will look to pile more misery on Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday, February 21st, 2012 at the Jobing.com Arena.
The Coyotes on Thursday, February 16th took the playoff spot from Los Angeles with a 1-0 win and have now moved up to seventh in the Western Conference with 67 points.
Phoenix’s brilliant form this month has been the main reason for their recent run up the Western Conference table. The Coyotes have lost just once in their past eight games.
However, the Kings have an opportunity to return level on points against Phoenix. Los Angeles is currently ninth in the Western Conference but trails Phoenix by just two points.
Recent results though have not been kind to the Kings. Los Angeles has struggled in offence throughout the season but have even failed to score once in their last two games, losing both by one goal margins.
Coyotes (29-21-9, 67 pts)
Phoenix Coyotes have been going strong throughout this month as they turned around their season completely.
The Coyotes are on a two game winning run and confidence is running high in the locker room. Phoenix defeated Dallas Stars 2-1 in overtime on Saturday.
Phoenix took a 1-0 lead late in the first period through Mikkel Boedker but were pegged back by a power play goal in the second period by Dallas.
With both teams goaltenders keeping things level in the final period it took a special Radim Vrbata goal in overtime to break the deadlock and give Phoenix another win.
Vrbata said after the game.
"In this conference, you need stretches like that to be in the playoff picture and we've done that,"
Kings (27-21-11, 65 pts)
Los Angeles struggles in offence continue with no end in sight.
Shut out in its last two games, the Kings have failed to score more than once throughout the season and only the great form of goaltender Jonathan Quick has kept them in contention for the playoffs for so long.
Luckily for them they are level on points with eighth placed Calgary Flames and Kings Captain Dustin Brown wants his players to refocus.
"As frustrating as these last two games have been, offensively, we've got to refocus. We play Phoenix on Tuesday. We can't sit here and talk about what-ifs. We've got games to play."
Predictions
Phoenix will win eventually.
It will be a low scoring game as both teams offence are not known for their goal scoring prowess.
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