Coyotes Take Down Kings in 2 Split Squad Games

Your Phoenix Coyotes managed to not only beat the Los Angeles Kings once, but beat them twice on the same night. With split squad games starting at 7:00 and 7:30 it was challenging to keep track of both games to say the least. Especially with no audio coming from the Kings arena feed. I'd break it down period by period as usual, but I don't think I can keep everything straight. So here's the abbreviated version after the jump.

I didn't get to follow the first period of game 1, but in reality it didn't matter that much since according to twitter reports the radio guys were hardly talking about the game anyhow. That is until the second period when just second in Alexei Ponikarovsky scored just seconds into the period. That's something we remember from the Ilya Bryzgalov of seasons past where it took him a few minutes to settle in and was vulnerable early in periods. That's certainly something to work on. That game would stay tied until late in the third period when Kyle Wellwood made some nifty stick handling moves to fake out Jonathan Bernier and snuck it behind him for the tying goal with just over a minute remaining. The game would go to overtime where Shane Doan scored the winner with a shot off of a rebound into an exposed net. Bernier really didn't have that much of a chance on it. Oliver Ekman-Larsson was credited with assists on both goals as he makes his case to be the team's 6th defenseman.

Game 2 was similar though it was the Coyotes that would lead for most of this game. just more than 6 minutes in Mikkel Boedker scored on one wicked shot as he streaked down the right wing. He kicked his speed on and rocketed the puck over an outstretched Johnathan Quick. It was a beauty of a shot that I'd like to see from Boedker more consistently. The Kings would tie it up again in the 3rd when Brayden Schenn got a pass from Dustin Brown, who was on his belly, and tipped it past Al Montoya. Unlike the other game though this one wouldn't be going to overtime thanks to a Brett MacLean goal. Eric Belanger put the icing on the cake with the empty netter for the 3-1 victory.

Lots of guys put in good performances to attempt to earn a spot on the team, but here's the good and not so good...

The Good:

Oliver Ekman-Larsson - 2 assists and was getting his name called out on the radio for positive things constantly. 2nd in ice time for the team in the Phoenix game.

Kyle Wellwood - Another goal, he's "hungry" for a spot on this team and is doing everything he can to get there.

Kyle Turris - He may not have appeared on the score sheet, but while I was watching the feed he was flying all over and putting a lot of pressure on the Kings defense.

Garrett Stafford - The 30 year old likely AHL player assisted on two goals in the Los Angeles game. It likely won't impact his chances on the team, but good to see either way. 

Mikkel Boedker - His goal was sweet. If he can play like he did tonight consistently he could make the team. 

Paul Bissonnette - Dropped the mitts with Kyle Clifford, it was a meh fight in of it self, but he drew the instigator and a misconduct by playing smart and drew 5 minor penalties overall. 

Shane Doan - Was sluggish to start but got the game winner.

The Bad:

Martin Hanzal - Not because he didn't play well, but rather because he was forced to leave the game after taking a slash on the hands late in the game. He's not someone we want out for any amount of time.

I don't know what else... No Shutouts? What should I complain about, we won two games within minutes of each other. Twas a good night.