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Struggling Coyotes, Kings meet in division battle

Nov 4, 2006 - 5:01 PM Los Angeles (4-8-3) at Phoenix (3-10-0) 9:00 pm EST

GLENDALE, Arizona (Ticker) -- Two struggling hockey clubs meet on Saturday when the Phoenix Coyotes host the Los Angeles Kings.

Phoenix, losers in six of its last seven, was dreadful in a 6-2 setback against the Anaheim Ducks on Friday.

Curtis Joseph was pulled after stopping only 16-of-21 shots in two periods. The Coyotes trailed, 1-0, after the first period but fell apart in allowing four second-period goals.

Patrick Fischer and Mike Comrie scored for Phoenix, which allowed three power-play goals in seven opportunities.

The Coyotes have surrendered a league-high 59 goals.

The Kings have been struggling lately in losing four of their last five games.

Los Angeles lost its last outing, 4-3, in overtime to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday. Michael Cammalleri, Dustin Brown and defenseman Rob Blake scored for the Kings, who were unable to hold a 3-2 third-period lead.

The Kings did go 1-for-2 on the power play, but are struggling this season with a 11.2 percent conversion rate. Los Angeles has had 107 opportunities with the extra man, far exceeding the San Jose Sharks, whose 85 chances are the second most.

Blake will be playing in his 1,000th career game, becoming the 15th player to reach the milestone in a Kings jersey. The last player to accomplish the feat while with Los Angeles was Kelly Buchberger in 2001-02.