Phoenix Coyotes need offensive spark for Game 3 against Los Angeles Kings -NHL Playoffs Update
Phoenix Coyotes have definitely disappointed during the first two games of the 2012 National Hockey League (NHL) Stanley Cup Western Conference Playoff Finals as they lost both to Los Angeles Kings by an even more below par margin, with one being a shutout.
Coming to realise the fact that they lost both opening matchups at the Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Arizona, the Coyotes are hoping for an offensive spark come Game 3 at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California.
Coyotes know that they also need to do better in the defensive department by minimising the shots Mike Smith faces as he has had to block nearly double than compared to his counterpart in the Kings’ net, Jonathan Quick.
"It is the playoffs. You have to do everything you can to create opportunities for your team," said Phoenix goalie Mike Smith. "It starts with getting pucks to people at the net. That's what time of year it is. To be able to score goals on Vezina Trophy
nominee goaltenders, you can't let him see the pucks or get to the rebounds"
Taking control of the puck is also an aspect of the game in which Phoenix is lacking. Los Angeles has managed to gain control over the puck for a majority of the time and it certainly showed as they outshot Phoenix Coyotes 88-51 in the past two.
"Our execution hasn't been near what it needs to be to get enough pucks towards their net," Phoenix coach, Dave Tippett, said. "You see their mindset is just to dump as many pucks as they could into our net. The reality is their execution is better up the
ice to allow them to do that.”
Execution is key when it comes to the harsh playing environment of the playoffs and if Phoenix Coyotes are eliminated in four straight games, all that confidence they had at the end of the semi-finals against Nashville Predators will go right down the drain.
Game 3 is scheduled for Thursday, May 17, 2012, in Los Angeles, California, which could either be a blessing for Phoenix Coyotes or Kings will continue their domination and take the series in Game 4.
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