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Garon, Kings blank Coyotes in impressive fashion

Oct 20, 2006 - 5:06 AM GLENDALE, Arizona (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Kings used a strong goaltending performance and a lethal power play to defeat the Phoenix Coyotes.

Mathieu Garon recorded his ninth career shutout and the Kings received power-play goals from four different players en route to a 4-0 victory over the Coyotes.

Phoenix scored on its first three power-play attempts - and four of its first five - after going 1-for-30 with the man advantage in its four previous games.

"The early power plays were huge for us and not only that, but the early penalty kills for us were good," Los Angeles coach Marc Crawford said. "That was the difference in the game. We got the power play goals then and that just really spurred on our confidence."

Garon posted a 31-26-3 record with a 3.22 goals-against average in 63 games last season. He made 40 saves Thursday in his first shutout of 2006-07.

"It seems like it's always easier when you get a (two) goal lead," Garon said. "It feels like the guys are playing better. They are not stressed and they are doing the simple things. We played awesome tonight.

"I don't think they got any rebounds. We had lost four in a row so we wanted to get back on the winning track and we did it."

Alexander Frolov, rookie Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown each scored on the power play in the first period to set the tone for the contest.

Michael Cammalleri tallied with the man advantage with 1:22 remaining in the second session to cap the scoring.

"I think it went under his arm, glove side," Cammalleri said. "We all know, if (Phoenix netminder Curtis Joseph) sees it, he stops it. The screen in front was huge in that goal."

Mike Morrison and Joseph combined for 27 saves for the Coyotes, who outshot the Kings, 40-31.

"What is disappointing is, when you come off a trip, the first period is so vital you have to stay out of the penalty box," Phoenix coach Wayne Gretzky said. "All of a sudden we got into a rut. We didn't execute and we didn't come up with the big kill that we needed in the first period."