• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Arizona Coyotes

Brown Out: Dustin Delivers For Kings In Desert

By Michael Gwizdala May 13th, 2012

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Just because most folks may not be familiar with seeing the Los Angeles Kings and Phoenix Coyotes in the Western Conference Finals, doesn’t mean the Pacific Division foes aren’t.  Which is a good thing, as familiarity tends to breed contempt.  Another phrase to describe these two clubs, relentless.  That was a major theme of Game One in the desert.

Much of the first frame saw Los Angeles setting the tone by finishing their checks and out-shooting Phoenix in the early going.  It wasn’t until around the 13 minute mark that the Coyotes actually registered a shot.  Although a couple of things ran contrary to conventional wisdom.  The first being that the Kings didn’t show any letdown on offense, even though Mike Smith continually stymied them despite getting peppered.  On the opposite end, Jonathan Quick was actually hurt by not getting into an early rhythm.

Dustin Brown battles Ray Whitney

( Matt Kartozian-US PRESSWIRE)

In that first, the Kings struck first.  Anze Kopitar swooped in and took a back pass from Dustin Brown.  Kopitar backhanded the puck past a screened Smith and notched his fourth of the playoffs.

Although L.A. out-shot Phoenix by a count of 17-4 in the first, Coyotes defenceman Derek Morris made his count with a boom.  Morris from near the red line, drilled one by an unsuspecting Quick and knotted the contest at one.  It was quite the impressive blast from center ice and for Morris, its second tally of these playoffs.

During the second the Kings went back to their transition game and it paid dividends.  Dwight King started the breakout off the boards and was handsomely rewarded.  That allowed Mike Richards to spring loose down the ice, with King jumping into the play.  Richards shot one off the right pad of Smith and King followed up by burying the fat rebound for his second of the post-season and the second L.A. marker.  Again the Kings getting contributions from every line.

However the resilient Coyotes would jump on a Kings miscue late in the period.  Quick, playing the puck behind the net to Drew Doughty, set the puck a little too still behind the cage.  That allowed Antoine Vermette to jump in and jar the puck loose to Shane Doan, who in turn fed Mikkel Boedker for his fourth of the playoffs, tying the game once again.

Yet Los Angeles would respond early in the third.  As he did in the first two round, captain Brown would make a major impact once again.  Off a beautiful down ice head man pass from Slava Voynov, Brown burst through, virtually uncontested and bested Smith for his seventh tally of the playoffs and the eventual winner.

Hostilities continued to ramp up and King buried an empty netter for good measure, making it a 4-2 final.  Hence, Los Angeles grabs a 1-0 series lead and improves its flawless post-season road mark to 6-0.

Three Stars: My three stars for this one, 1.) Dustin Brown (1-1-2) GWG, 2.) Mike Smith (44 SVS), 3.) Dwight King (2-0-2).

  • Tags
  • Anze Kopitar
  • Derek Morris
  • Dustin Brown
  • Dwight King
  • Jonathan Quick
  • Mike Smith
  • Mikkel Boedker
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 23rd 8:00 PM
Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets Thrilled To Bring Laine, Roslovic On Board

Jan 23rd 6:58 PM
Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens’ Price Still Has Room to Improve Early in 2020-21

Jan 23rd 4:05 PM
All-Star Weekend

25 Years Later: The FoxTrax Glowing Puck Makes Its Debut

Jan 23rd 3:50 PM
Boston Bruins

Bruins Should Play Grzelcyk With McAvoy

Jan 23rd 3:23 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs Are Being Too Patient With the Puck

Jan 23rd 2:20 PM
Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins’ Pierre-Oliver Joseph Shines in NHL Debut

Jan 23rd 2:10 PM
Anaheim Ducks

Ducks Prospects: Lacombe, McLaughlin, Sundsvik & More

Jan 23rd 2:00 PM
Colorado Avalanche

Prospects News & Rumors: Clarke, Byram & Cozens

Jan 23rd 2:00 PM
New York Islanders

Islanders’ Kieffer Bellows Adapting to New Role

Jan 23rd 1:50 PM
Calgary Flames

Flames’ Monahan Vying to Be Best Center in North Division

Editor’s Picks
2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information