If things keep going they way they are these last weeks, the Los Angeles Kings and Arizona Coyotes will meet on an elevator about midway in 12-story building with the Coyotes going up and the Kings heading down.
On Friday night, the Kings lost to the Coyotes, 3-2, in extra time.
Christian Fischer struck for the game-winner at 2:43 of the extra session for the Arizona win.
“[Wednesday’s] loss (3-1 to San Jose Sharks) was obviously tough to swallow,” Fischer
Goalie Scott Wedgewood (#40) of the Arizona Coyotes – file photo courtesy of Lewis Bleiman
said . “Today was great. The way we played is the way we want to play moving forward.”
LA dropped to 12-8-3 with the loss.
“At the end of the day we’ve got to win a hockey game, so let’s not pat ourselves on the back and say we played better,” Kings head coach John Stevens said. “I think the guys played hard. I think the guys are totally invested. If it was a compete issue I’d be really concerned, but there’s execution in certain parts of our game that clearly have to be a lot better.”
Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Brendan Perlini scored in regulation for the Coyotes.
“I thought a lot of guys had good games. Everybody contributed. We didn’t have many passengers tonight,” Coyotes head coach Rick Tocchet said of his club after the win.
Scott Wedgewood made 23 saves to get the win for the Coyotes who improved to 6-16-3; certainly no room for celebration but there is certainly more heart on the ebnch these days.
“Any time you have an opportunity to know a day in advance as a goaltender, there’s no unknowns,” Wedgewood said. “Getting a start and getting through the first period, we played well and we’re up one. It just kept flowing from there.”
Anze Kopitar and Trevor Lewis scored for LA.
[WATCH:Â All Kings vs. Coyotes highlights]
Darcy Kuemper‘s 30 saves could not keep the Kings from dropping their third straight and seventh in the last eight.
Marian Gaborik, returned to the lineup for the first time this season and had an assist on the Kopitar goal.
“I thought he skated well. I thought he wanted the puck. I thought he really competed along the wall hard, which is hard, being out as long as he has, and not played a game since last year. He’s a good pro. I think he really prepared himself,” Stevens aid.
You must be logged in to post a comment.