Final
Coyotes aim for fourth straight victory
Apr 3, 2009 - 8:36 PM By Dan Pieringer Stats WriterPhoenix (34-37-7) at Los Angeles (31-35-11), 10:00 p.m. EDT
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Phoenix Coyotes and Los Angeles Kings have two of the three worst records in the Western Conference, but only the Kings have been playing like it lately.
The Coyotes look to continue their dominance of the struggling Kings and get their season-high fourth straight win Saturday night when the Pacific Division rivals finish a home-and-home series at Staples Center.
Phoenix (34-37-7) and Los Angeles (31-35-11) are near the bottom of the West standings, and both clubs have been eliminated from postseason contention.
However, the Coyotes appear determined to close the season on a high note. They've gone 6-2-1 over their last nine and won three straight for the first time since Nov. 8-12. They haven't had a longer winning streak since a five-game run from Dec. 31, 2007-Jan. 8, 2008.
Phoenix appears to have a good chance to continue its current streak based on its recent play against Los Angeles. The Coyotes are 4-1-0 against the Kings this season, and they've outscored them 17-10 in going 5-1-0 in the last six meetings at Staples Center.
Phoenix opened this home-and-home series with a 2-1 win Thursday night, dropping Los Angeles to 1-5-1 in its last seven.
That win was largely due to goaltender Al Montoya, who will start again Saturday. The rookie has held opponents to one goal in winning his first two NHL starts. He delivered a shutout in his debut at conference-worst Colorado on Wednesday before making 20 saves against Los Angeles.
"It's a simple game if you keep it simple," Montoya told the Coyotes' official Web site. "Just play hard and cut down the angles, and that's what I want to do. My defensive corps is doing a great job at letting me see the puck and feel it."
Coyotes winger Scottie Upshall scored the winning goal at the 14:06 mark of the third period Thursday but deflected the credit to Phoenix's defense.
"Our team is playing great," Upshall said. "Montoya the last couple games has been outstanding for us and a big reason why we have two (wins) here in the last couple games. ... It says a lot for our tenders and for everyone in front of him."
Kings coach Terry Murray, however, said his team didn't do enough to challenge the 24-year-old Montoya. Los Angeles managed 21 shots to Phoenix's 32 and has lost 12 straight games in which it has been outshot.
"We didn't generate a lot to test their goaltender very often," Murray said.
The Kings' lack of offense spoiled a strong performance from Jon Quick, who made 30 saves. Quick, who has started each game during the Kings' 1-5-1 stretch, is 1-3-0 with a 2.27 goals-against average in four career games against the Coyotes - all this season.
- NHL
FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
PHOENIX 0 1 0 1
LOS ANGELES 2 1 3 6 FINAL
GOAL SCORING:
1ST PRD: LOS - BRIAN BOYLE 3 (KYLE CALDER) 7:02
LOS - BRIAN BOYLE 4 (UNASSISTED) 14:52
2ND PRD: PHO - SHANE DOAN 31 (UNASSISTED) 2:48
LOS - ALEXANDER FROLOV 29 (JUSTIN WILLIAMS, ANZE KOPITAR)
10:07
3RD PRD: LOS - ANZE KOPITAR
Apr 5 1:09 AM - NHL
PHOENIX 1
LOS ANGELES 6
3RD PRD: LOS - (PP) ALEXANDER FROLOV 30 (JACK JOHNSON, DREW DOUGHTY)
15:56
Coyotes 1, Kings 6 3rd - 4:04Apr 5 12:59 AM - NHL
PHOENIX 1
LOS ANGELES 5
3RD PRD: LOS - (PP) JUSTIN WILLIAMS 4 (ANZE KOPITAR, DREW DOUGHTY)
10:50 (TWO-MAN ADVANTAGE)
Coyotes 1, Kings 5 3rd - 9:10Apr 5 12:50 AM - NHL
PHOENIX 1
LOS ANGELES 4
3RD PRD: LOS - ANZE KOPITAR 27 (MATT GREENE, JUSTIN WILLIAMS) 3:36
Coyotes 1, Kings 4 3rd - 16:24Apr 5 12:32 AM - NHL
END OF THE 2ND 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
PHOENIX 0 1 1
LOS ANGELES 2 1 3 END OF THE 2ND
GOAL SCORING:
1ST PRD: LOS - BRIAN BOYLE 3 (KYLE CALDER) 7:02
LOS - BRIAN BOYLE 4 (UNASSISTED) 14:52
2ND PRD: PHO - SHANE DOAN 31 (UNASSISTED) 2:48
LOS - ALEXANDER FROLOV 29 (JUSTIN WILLIAMS, ANZE KOPITAR)
10:07
SHOTS ON GOAL:
Apr 5 12:09 AM - NHL
PHOENIX 1
LOS ANGELES 3
2ND PRD: LOS - ALEXANDER FROLOV 29 (JUSTIN WILLIAMS, ANZE KOPITAR)
10:07
Coyotes 1, Kings 3 2nd - 9:53Apr 4 11:53 PM - NHL
PHOENIX 1
LOS ANGELES 2
2ND PRD: PHO - SHANE DOAN 31 (UNASSISTED) 2:48
Coyotes 1, Kings 2 2nd - 17:12Apr 4 11:42 PM - NHL
END OF THE 1ST 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
PHOENIX 0 0
LOS ANGELES 2 2 END OF THE 1ST
GOAL SCORING:
1ST PRD: LOS - BRIAN BOYLE 3 (KYLE CALDER) 7:02
LOS - BRIAN BOYLE 4 (UNASSISTED) 14:52
SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
PHO 6 6
LOS 10 10
GOALIES: P
Apr 4 11:17 PM - NHL
PHOENIX 0
LOS ANGELES 2
1ST PRD: LOS - BRIAN BOYLE 4 (UNASSISTED) 14:52
Coyotes 0, Kings 2 1st - 5:08Apr 4 11:11 PM - NHL
PHOENIX 0
LOS ANGELES 1
1ST PRD: LOS - BRIAN BOYLE 3 (KYLE CALDER) 7:02
Coyotes 0, Kings 1 1st - 12:58Apr 4 10:57 PM
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