You wouldn't know it by the score, but the Los Angeles Kings have really been struggling offensively as of late. LA had scored more than two goals just three times in 11 contests since we rung in the New Year, with two shutouts over that span. The Phoenix Coyotes figured they'd cut them a break on Saturday night.
The Kings got on the board early and often. Justin Williams scored for the Kings less than two minutes in to put the Kings on top, 1-0. From there, the defensemen took over for Los Angeles.
D-men accounted for the next two King goals, with Drew Doughty and Alec Martinez widening the gap, 3-0.
The Coyotes crept back into the game though. Lee Stempniak's goal late in the period revived the Coyotes in what could have been a game that could have very easily gotten away from them.
Phoenix would strike again early in the second. On the power play for the second time in the game, Martin Hanzal's backhander narrowed the gap to just 3-2 in favor of the Kings. With less than two to go in the second, Stempniak added his second goal, flicking a wrister right past Jonathan Quick to even the score, 3-3, for Phoenix.
Even having overcome a three-goal deficit heading into the third, the Coyotes still came out flat in the game's closing frame. The Kings outshot them 12-10 in the period, but it would only take one of those 12 to decide the game. Less than five minutes into the period, Ilya Bryzgalov failed to seal a rebound, and Jarret Stoll seized the opportunity, backhanding it past Bryzgalov while falling to the ice to make it 4-3.
Despite several opportunities in the third, the Coyotes wouldn't be able to rally again. It didn't help that they played most of the period without Shane Doan, who went sailing into the boards in the defensive zone, but did return later on.
Phoenix will have a couple of days off, not playing again until Tuesday, when they host the Edmonton Oilers. It will be the first of back-to-back games for the Coyotes, who will also travel to Colorado for a tilt with the Avalanche on Wednesday.