GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Los Angeles Kings won Game 2 of the NHL Western Conference finals 4-0 over the Phoenix Coyotes Tuesday night at Jobing.com Arena. But it sure felt like the death blow to the Coyotes' playoff run, even though L.A. leads the series 2-0.
So crushing was the loss that the Coyotes were questioning their own heart and desire after the game. Goalie Mike Smith wondered aloud if guys are just "happy to be here" in the conference finals and that they need to take it all in and realize that they might not ever get another opportunity such as this, to play for the Stanley Cup.
The Coyotes also skated off the ice with the spectre of possible suspensions looming for captain Shane Doan and teammate Martin Hanzal, both who were given game misconducts for boarding -- checking Kings players into the boards with recklessness. Hanzal rocked the Kings' Dustin Brown at 11:01 of the third period, Brown staying down on his stomach for a few moments.
Doan was sent off for a hit at 16:29 of the second period.
"I'm not going to worry about the discipline. The league will take care of that. We have to regroup and go in there and try to steal a game on the road," Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said. "The Doan penalty is an interesting one. A player can't put himself in that position."
Tippett felt the Kings' Trevor Lewis turned his back to Doan before the hit. "You can't stop. That's the way I saw that hit," Tippett said.
"It was disappointing the way it finished. Unfortunately the penalties took the game away from us," Tippett said. "I think you have to give them credit but I certainly think we can show better than we are right now."
Jonathan Quick, maybe the best player still playing at present, stopped all 24 Coyotes shots. The Phoenix power play was non-existent, going 0-for-4.
"Anytime you spend half the period or more in the penalty box, eventually a team with their skill level is going to score," Coyotes goalie Mike Smith said.
Here's more from Smith after the game:
Phoenix's Keith Yandle refused to say the Kings got under the Coyotes' skin. He was among those to serve penalty minutes.
"It is what it is. It's something we have to play through," Yandle said. "We've been good on the road all year. We take pride in being a pretty good road team."
Yandle also didn't seem to think Doan, based on what he saw, will be suspended.
Left winger Lauri Korpikoski said the Coyotes are confident going on the road. But the Kings have won seven straight playoff games and appear to be a juggernaut.
There is one other thought to keep in mind. If a sale of the Coyotes to Greg Jamison for some reason does not go through this offseason, Tuesday could have been the last Phoenix Coyotes game in Glendale, especially if the Kings sweep the series. It's a daunting prospect, but a very real one given the history of attempts to find a full-time owner for this team.
Game 3 is Thursday night at the Staples Center.