Kings Crown Coyotes – Playoffs Chances Hurt

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Jack Campbell made 49 saves, Trevor Lewis scored 3:29 into the third period, and the Los Angeles Kings hurt Arizona’s playoff chances with a 3-1 victory over the Coyotes on Tuesday night.

Tyler Clifford had a goal and an assist for Los Angeles (30-41-9), which had dropped three of four. Drew Doughty added an empty-netter with 44.4 seconds left.

Arizona fell four points behind Colorado for the second wild card in the Western Conference. The Coyotes (38-34-8) need to win their final two games and have Colorado lose its last two in order to have a chance to get in.

Brad Richardson scored for Arizona, and Darcy Kuemper made 16 saves before he was accidentally struck in the face when Lewis raised his stick after his backhand goal.

Arizona Coyotes Darcy Kuemper
Arizona Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper is attended to by a team trainer. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Kuemper, who has played a key role in Arizona’s push for a wild card, was replaced by Calvin Pickard.

The Coyotes came up empty on six power plays.

Arizona jumped in front when Vinnie Hinostroza set up Richardson 16:06 into the second. Hinostroza gathered in a turnover and took the puck up the ice for a centring pass to Richardson, who moved into a tie for the team lead with his 18th of the season.

The Kings tied it at 1 with less than a second left in the period. Clifford deflected Tyler Toffoli’s shot past Kuemper for his 11th goal.

The highlight of a scoreless first period was a fight between Clifford and Arizona’s Lawson Crouse, the penalty minutes leaders for their respective teams. After Crouse levelled Alec Martinez with a check, Clifford went after Crouse and both exchanged punches while the crowd roared.

NOTES: Kuemper went 227 minutes, 15 seconds without allowing an even-strength goal before Clifford scored. It was the sixth-longest streak in franchise history. … Doughty played in his 408th consecutive game, a team record. … Campbell’s save total was a career high.

UP NEXT

Kings: Visit the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night.

Coyotes: Visit the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night.

___

More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/tag/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Jose M. Romero, The Associated Press