Kings prepare for Coyotes to clamp down on leading line
The Kings' first line of center Anze Kopitar and wingers Dustin Brown and Justin Williams put on a show in Game 1. That trio is old and wise enough to know that life probably won't be as easy in Game 2.
Brown, Kopitar and Williams were on the ice for two of the Kings' goals in the Game 1 victory over Phoenix on Sunday in the Western Conference Finals. Heading into Game 2 on Tuesday, a certain point of emphasis for the Coyotes will be limiting that line's space in the offensive zone.
At their best, Brown, Kopitar and Williams are able to pull pucks off the boards and cycle, and Kopitar in particular has a dangerous shot from anywhere on the ice.
The line has performed well throughout these playoffs, but never better than it did in Game 1, when the three players combined for four points and 15 shots on goal. Brown knows to expect some push-back from the Coyotes in Game 2.
"It's just like pretty much any series," Brown said. "You get that first game out of the way, start looking at film, tendencies. I'm not sure what they're going to try to do to (try to) stop us.
"It's one of those things where they're going to make adjustments. It's up to us, as players, to make adjustments in games to be effective and have an impact on Game 2."
Notes: The Kings continue to win on the road in the playoffs. The Kings' Game 1 victory was their sixth consecutive road victory in this postseason, and the Kings have not yet lost a road game in these playoffs. Dating to last season, the Kings have won eight consecutive playoff games on the road. The NHL record for most consecutive playoff road victories -- not necessarily in a single postseason -- is held by the New York Islanders, who won nine consecutive road games in 1982 and 1983.
--The Kings still aren't scoring on the power play, but they're also still not giving up power-play goals. The Kings, in Game 1, went 0-for-4 on the power play. The Kings have totaled only four power-play goals in 10 games in this postseason, including only one power-play goal in their last eight games. That hasn't really made a negative impact, though, mostly because the Kings have been stellar on the penalty kill. The Kings successfully killed all five Phoenix power-play chances in Game 1, and the Kings have now gone five consecutive games without allowing a power-play goal. In this postseason, the Kings are now 40-for-43 on the penalty kill.
