Game Recap
The Arizona Coyotes’ win streak came to an end last night after a 6-3 loss to the Los Angeles Kings. Things started off well for the Desert Dogs but quickly spiraled from there.
Arizona looked good in the first few minutes of the game, which culminated in Jack McBain’s first goal of the season. Travis Boyd assisted on the goal and set up McBain, and it briefly looked like it would be another dominant Coyotes performance.
Unfortunately, things went downhill from there, and like we have seen so many times before, it started with a penalty. Nick Bjugstad was in the box for hooking, and they were doing a good job killing it off. But with just over 30 seconds left, Anze Kopitar lit the lamp, tying the game.
Kopitar’s goal opened the floodgates, and Trevor Lewis and Trevor Moore both scored not long after. After a solid start, the Coyotes had given up three goals in four and a half minutes. The three goals resulted in the first goalie pull of the season as Karel Vejmelka relieved Connor Ingram.
Despite the rough start, the Coyotes still had a lot of hockey left to play. Arizona wasn’t going to go down without a fight, and they pushed back in the second period.
Nick Bjugstad scored his second of the season from Lawson Crouse and Michael Carcone early in the middle frame, briefly making it a one-goal game.
The play started with a faceoff win in the neutral zone and a rush into the Kings’ zone. Phoenix Copley made a save on Crouse’s shot, but Nick Bjugstad picked up the rebound to cut the Kings’ lead to one.
It didn’t take long for the Kings to rebound, though. Blake Lizotte made it 4-2 less than a minute and a half later, scoring his second of the game.
Arizona would get another one back late in the second period on their second power play. Drew Doughty was sent to the box for tripping Juuso Välimäki, and with the man advantage, Clayton Keller netted his fourth of the season on the power play.
Nick Schmaltz and Logan Cooley both assisted on the goal with two great passes leading up to the goal. Unfortunately, it would be the last Coyotes goal of the game.
Any hope of a comeback was cut short early in the final frame. Kevin Fiala scored his first of the season five and a half minutes into the third period, making it 5-3. An empty net would give the Kings the 6-3 win.
Last night showed what a difference a power play goal could make. Los Angeles getting an early goal led to two more, turning a 1-0 lead into a 3-1 deficit. If the Coyotes hadn’t taken that first penalty, or they had successfully killed it, there is a chance we could have seen a very different result.
Lines
Three Stars
- Blake Lizotte – Game-winning goal and assist
- Anze Kopitar – Goal and an assist
- Clayton Keller – Goal
Next Game
The Coyotes will face off against the Kings again this Friday at the Mullett Arena at 7:00 pm Arizona time.