The Los Angeles Kings continue to take the Pacific Division by surprise, beating the Phoenix Coyotes in a division matchup on Monday night, 5-3. Anze Kopitar continued his torrid point-scoring pace, netting his 10th goal and adding two assists to give him 21 points on the season.
Phoenix played well, however, as Shane Doan had a powerplay goal in the first and an assist on Martin Hanzal’s goal less than a minute into the 2nd period. The Coyotes took a two goal lead later in the second, as Scottie Upshall scored his 4th goal of the year. However, the Kings tightened down their defense in the 3rd period, and the Coyotes finished the game with only 16 shots, managing only 4 shots in the 3rd.
Ryan Smyth scored the first of his two goals in the game with less than a minute left in the second, cutting the Coyotes’ lead to one. Justin Williams continued to benefit from playing with Kopitar and Smyth on LA’s top line, and scored the game-tying goal in the 3rd, with both of his linemates assisting on the tally. Sophomore defenseman Drew Doughty scored the go-ahead goal a little over 15 minutes into the 3rd, and Smyth scored an empty netter in the final minute to increase his point total to 15.
In a 2009-10 season that has been full of surprises, especially in the Western Conference, Los Angeles now sits half a game back of the division-leading San Jose Sharks, with 20 points. Phoenix has only one more regulation loss than the Kings, and the Coyotes currently hold the 3rd spot in the division with 18 points. LA has a few days off, and will host the Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday. Phoenix has a couple of tough games this week, as they travel to face the red-hot Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday, and host the Central Division-leading Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday before traveling to Anaheim on Saturday.