IT CAME FROM OUT OF THE ICE : COYOTES (3) VS KINGS (2) 11/23/19

IT CAME FROM OUT OF THE ICE : COYOTES (3) VS KINGS (2) 11/23/19

CAPSULE : The Coyotes are down at 24^th overall in goal scoring, but it’s not as terrible at the Kings who are 29^th overall in the league. The Coyotes currently sit in 2^nd in the Pacific coming into this game at 13-8-2. The Kings are just the worst. Like at the freakin bottom at 9-12-1. Which probably means the Coyotes need to be ready and not play down to their competition like usual.  One thing to not overlook is that the Kings are 5-0 in their last 5 home games.

STEPAN (21) – Had the second assist on the Keller goal in the 1^st period. In the 3^rd he made an amazing defensive play diving to break up a Kings drive into the zone. If it’s late in the game, you want him to take the draw, because he knows exactly what to do.

DVORAK (18) –  Good game out of him. He wasn’t great in the face-off circle though.

SCHMALTZ (8) – Gonna call this a rough one for him. Nothing really going on stats wise and I don’t recall seeing him with the puck much at all today.

GARLAND (83) – Probably his most quiet game in quite some time.

IS IT REAL OR IS IT MEMOREX – This game will happen well after I post this, but the Avs take on the Leafs tonight. It will be interesting to see if they play as hard as they did against the Coyotes in their last game, or if that was just an anomaly in what will end up being a really long season for the Leafs. 

CROUSE (67) – Scored a goal right between a King’s defensemen’s legs after a weird rebound almost went in seconds earlier. He took an awkward drive into the net after possibly getting tripped and hit the boards head first. He was able to get off the ice with a bit of help, but it looked pretty intense at full speed. He did not return to the game.

SODERBERG (34) – Logged a pretty good amount of ice time but I wasn’t overly impressed with his game today.

KESSEL (81) – Scored his first goal in 11 games in the 1^st on the Power Play. He had a really nice give and go play with Keller leaving his shot on net wide open.  That goal was his 4^th of the season.

HAYTON (29) – 2 hits and a shot on goal. No penalties, so that’s a plus. He also didn’t lose any face-offs.

KELLER (9) – Had a nice heads up assist to Kessel after getting a pass from him on the Power Play.

FISCHER (36) –  A really solid effort out of him. He was not allowing shenanigans from the Kings when they turned it over late, he buried an empty net goal which turned out to be the game winner. He also had 4 hits and 2 blocks. So yeah, really nice game from Fischer today.

RICHARDSON (15) – Still seems to be struggling a bit. Like after you get into a car crash, you drive like an ultra-intense grandpa for the next couple of weeks. He will get there though, he’s too good not too.

DARK STAPLES – It’s oddly dark inside Staples Center even when the lights are on.

HINOSTROZA (13) – For some reason threw a pass right in front of the net in the 3^rd and that almost lead to a great shot for the Kings. Fortunately for the Coyotes that play did not lead to a goal. Hinostroza did get an assist in this one.

OEL (23) - Good rebound game for him after the last one. OEL along with most of the D seemed to be frustrating the Kings on an ongoing basis. Like to the point where he should change the Kings for a “I will frustrate you” subscription.

DEMERS (55) – Was around the puck a ton today and had a really solid game overall.

PHILLY CHEESESTEAK BURGER – I admit it. I am afraid of this thing. It feels like a triple bypass waiting to happen.

CHYCHRUN (6) – Had a nice defensive play on a Kings breakaway in the 2^nd period, diving to disrupt a pass that would have led to at least a really good shot on net. It seemed like he won just about every race for the puck he was in today.

GOLIGOSKI (33) – Had a lapse in judgement with about 90 seconds to go in the game and let a Kings player get in front of him in the 3^rd after the Kings pulled their goalie. They scored in that situation making the scored 2 to 3 at the time.

LYUBUSHKIN (46) – 4 hits and a block in just over 12 minutes on the ice. I like Ness, but it was really good game for him today.

YOUR VOWS – Should never be a Whitesnake song.

OESTERLE (82) – Had probably his best game of the year. He did have a penalty called against him, but on the play it was probably a good move on his part. That Power Play did not lead to a goal for the Kings.

RAANTA (32) – Another fantastic outing from him. Wow, what a great game.

WRAP UP –  Whenever you can get 19 shots on goal and still win. That’s a game you want to just chalk up to hard work. They allowed 45 shots in this one. Holy cow.  The Coyotes are now at 14-8-2 just 1 point out of 1^st place in the Pacific. Not that I pay attention to those sorts of things.