Wild Coyotes: Lack of Discipline Gives Kings Victory, 2-0 Lead

Two ejections later, Phoenix is down 2-0 to the Los Angeles Kings.

Photo credit: Harry How/Getty Images

The first was Shane Doan, nailing King's forward Trevor Lewis into the boards from behind. The Coyote captain was thrown out of the game, with LA already leading the game 2-0. 

The second was Martin Hanzal, with a very suspension-worthy hit  on King's captain Dustin Brown. Brown was just past the goal line when Hanzal hit him in the numbers, causing Brown to slam his face into the boards and surrounding glass. This would lead to yet another Los Angeles goal by Jeff Carter--his third of the night.

Phoenix played "like a defeated team" as NBCSports so bluntly put it. Two individual ejections, a third matching misconduct for the Coyotes and Kings, as well as goaltender Mike Smith's chop to the back of Dustin Brown's legs. They were having enough trouble trying to score; being shorthanded only made things worse. Phoenix had times where they would get a scramble in front of LA's Jonathan Quick, playing out at the top of his crease. But those times were few and fruitless.

Meanwhile, Jeff Carter was making the most of his night in Arizona.Two goals in the second period (though one maybe should be credited to Kopitar), and a goal late in the third gave Carter three of his four goals in the playoffs, and his first playoff hat trick. 

Contrary to the score, however, Mike Smith had a solid night for the Phoenix Coyotes. He handled 36 of the 40 shots that Los Angeles fired on him (at the other end, Quick had 24 saves for the Kings). But when your team is giving up 40 shots a game, managing only 24, and scoring zero...it's going to be impossible to win. 

The Kings have now won nine road games in a row. And they are nearly as deadly back home in the Staples Center. Phoenix will have to work some magic to make this a series again; as of now, they have been dominated by the Kings, and dug themselves into a deeper hole with the undisciplined play they have exhibited. They need smart play--and they need goals.

Game 3 will be in Los Angeles on Thursday night.