Phoenix 2, Los Angeles 0
When: 3:00 PM ET, Sunday, May 20, 2012
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
Referees:
Kelly Sutherland, Chris Lee
Linesmen:
Derek Amell, Jonny Murray
Attendance:
18402
By SportsDirect Inc.
COYOTES 2, KINGS 0: Shane Doan scored twice and Mike Smith turned aside 36 shots as Phoenix remained alive in the Western Conference finals with a win over host Los Angeles.
The Coyotes were outplayed for most of the afternoon but didn't buckle, getting sensational goaltending from Smith and timely offense from their captain to trim the deficit in the best-of-seven series to 3-1. The win also ended the Kings' eight-game postseason winning streak.
Game 5 goes Tuesday night in Glendale, Ariz.
A Phoenix power play yielded the opening goal 14:19 into the first period. Kings netminder Jonathan Quick negated an icing by playing the puck but he failed to clear the zone. The puck ended up on the stick of Doan, who skated out from the corner boards and flicked a backhand shot that squeezed between Quick's arm and his body.
The Kings had two great chances to even the score early in the second period. A Trevor Lewis backhander from the slot handcuffed Smith over his glove hand but rang off the left post and stayed out, while a goalmouth scramble moments later ended with Smith clamping his glove on top of an Anze Kopitar rebound attempt.
The Coyotes extended the lead on a strange goal at 11:10. Doan snapped a shot on a clean faceoff win that deflected off Kings defenseman Dustin Penner, struck the camera inside of the net and bounced out.
Play continued until the next whistle, when a video review confirmed Doan's fifth goal of the postseason.
Los Angeles looked to trim the deficit late in the frame after Kopitar stole the puck from Smith. Kopitar centered a pass to Kings captain Dustin Brown, who lofted a shot high and wide of the net.
It was more of the same in the third period, with the Kings generating quality scoring chances but being unable to solve Smith. An early power play yielded nothing, and Los Angeles didn't muster much with Quick on the bench for an extra attacker.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Kings hadn't trailed by two goals since Game 4 of its first-round series against the Vancouver Canucks - the only other game they have lost in the playoffs. ... The Coyotes were outshot for the 13th time in 15 postseason games. ... The two-goal performance was the second of Doan's postseason career.
Top Game Performances
Phoenix |
|
Los Angeles |
Shane Doan 2 |
Points |
N/A |
Shane Doan 2 |
Goals |
N/A |
Antoine Vermette 1 |
Assists |
N/A |
Shane Doan 1 |
Power Play Goals |
N/A |
N/A |
Short Handed Goals |
N/A |
Mike Smith 1.000 |
Save Percentage |
Jonathan Quick .905 |
Mike Smith 36 |
Saves |
Jonathan Quick 19 |
Team Stats Summary
Team |
Shots |
Goals |
Power Play |
Penalty Kill |
Penalty Mins |
Face Offs Won |
Phoenix
|
21 |
2 |
1-3 |
6-6 |
16 |
26 |
Los Angeles
|
36 |
0 |
0-6 |
2-3 |
10 |
33 |
Upcoming Games
-
Los Angeles will play their next game on the road against Phoenix. The Kings have a W/L % of .425 after a win and .548 after a loss.
-
Phoenix will play their next game at home against Los Angeles. The Coyotes have a W/L % of .476 after a win and .550 after a loss.