The Coyotes will play their third game in four nights on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings at Jobing.com Arena.This will be the fifth of six meetings between the teams. The Coyotes are 3-1-0 against the Kings so far this season. The last time they played, the Coyotes won 6-3 in Los Angeles on Feb. 21.
The Coyotes (33-37-7) are coming off a 3-0 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night at the Pepsi Center. Goalie Al Montoya made 23 saves in his NHL debut. Mikkel Boedker, Shane Doan and Zbynek Michalek scored for the Coyotes, who are 5-2-1 in their past eight games. Montoya is expected to start in goal again tonight.
Phoenix is 4-0-1 in its past five home games and has already eclipsed its home victory total from last season.
Doan needs one goal to set a career-high for goals scored in one season (31).
The Kings dropped a 3-2 decision to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night at the Staples Center. Jack Johnson and Anze Kopitar scored for Los Angeles, which has lost five of its past six games (1-4-1).
"When you come off a long road trip, it always seems that you have a tough time getting into it in the first game at home," Kings right wing Justin Williams said after the game on Tuesday. "But at this level of the game, it's unacceptable for us to have a performance like that. It's ugly, it stinks, and it won't happen again."
Los Angeles (31-34-11) enters Thursday's game in 13th place in the Western Conference standings, one spot ahead of the Coyotes. Both teams have 73 points.
?They have a young team as well,? Coyotes Assistant Coach Doug Sulliman said. ?I think we are loaded with exceptional young forwards and they have exceptional young defensemen. It?s a nice match to see them go against each other.?
Kings top scorer Alexander Frolov is not expected to play. He has missed the past four games because of a groin injury.
Jarret Stoll, Kyle Quincey and Denis Gauthier also missed Tuesday's game because of injuries.
The teams will play again on Saturday night in Los Angeles.
The Coyotes (33-37-7) are coming off a 3-0 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night at the Pepsi Center. Goalie Al Montoya made 23 saves in his NHL debut. Mikkel Boedker, Shane Doan and Zbynek Michalek scored for the Coyotes, who are 5-2-1 in their past eight games. Montoya is expected to start in goal again tonight.
Phoenix is 4-0-1 in its past five home games and has already eclipsed its home victory total from last season.
Doan needs one goal to set a career-high for goals scored in one season (31).
The Kings dropped a 3-2 decision to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night at the Staples Center. Jack Johnson and Anze Kopitar scored for Los Angeles, which has lost five of its past six games (1-4-1).
"When you come off a long road trip, it always seems that you have a tough time getting into it in the first game at home," Kings right wing Justin Williams said after the game on Tuesday. "But at this level of the game, it's unacceptable for us to have a performance like that. It's ugly, it stinks, and it won't happen again."
Los Angeles (31-34-11) enters Thursday's game in 13th place in the Western Conference standings, one spot ahead of the Coyotes. Both teams have 73 points.
?They have a young team as well,? Coyotes Assistant Coach Doug Sulliman said. ?I think we are loaded with exceptional young forwards and they have exceptional young defensemen. It?s a nice match to see them go against each other.?
Kings top scorer Alexander Frolov is not expected to play. He has missed the past four games because of a groin injury.
Jarret Stoll, Kyle Quincey and Denis Gauthier also missed Tuesday's game because of injuries.
The teams will play again on Saturday night in Los Angeles.
