For the Los Angeles Kings, the 2016-17 NHL campaign will be remembered for what might have been.
Mike Smith missed a shutout Sunday with deflection goal – file photo by Brianna O’Mara
While Peter Budaj was a solid replacement for Jonathan Quick who was injured in the first period of the first game of the season, there is no replacing Quick.
Close games were lost in a season when the Kings had trouble putting even a single goal up on the scoreboard.
Such was the case in LA Sunday night when the Kings lost to the Arizona Coyotes, 2-1.
The loss eliminated the Kings from the playoff race.
“It’s a very empty feeling and sour taste,” the Kings’ Anze Kopitar said. “We knew what the situation was the last few games. We gave it our all. It wasn’t good enough.”
Mike Smith made 34 saves to get the win for the Coyotes who have played well down the stretch and are now playing the role of spoilers; their record stands at 29-41-9.
Alexander Burmistrov and Anthony Duclair struck for the Arizona goals.
“When we have the chance to eliminate someone out of the playoffs, we have to take our chance,” Burmistrov said.
Alec Martinez scored the Kings only goal on a errant dump in that deflected off a Coyotes defenseman and into the empty net after Smith was caught out of the crease waiting for the puck.
“We turned over a lot of pucks and put pressure on ourselves, but [Smith] bailed us out,” Arizona head coach Dave Tippett said.
WATCH: All Coyotes vs. Kings highlights
Quick took the loss on saves.
“Other teams are finding ways to win 2-1 or 1-0,” Quick said. “From my defensive end, I wonder why we can’t win 1-0 or 2-1.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.