The Kings and Coyotes square off tonight for the first time since the season opener in Los Angeles where the Coyotes destroyed the Kings 6-3. The Coyotes are currently on a 4 game winning streak with a 3-2 overtime win against the Red Wings on Thursday.   The Kings Anze Kopitar is currently on a 6 game points streak and Drew Doughty is currently on a 5 game points streak.

Coyotes Goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov is statistically the top starting goaltender in the NHL at the moment and looks to continue his amazing start to the season along with the tough Coyotes Defensive corps.

If you look at the Kings from top to bottom they are an impressive team but they still have weaknesses.  Some of the main weaknesses on the Kings Roster are:

1) Lack of Defensive Scoring or balanced scoring for that matter – If you look at the comparisons between the Kings and the Coyotes rosters in scoring you will note that the Kings scoring drops off  after the top lines and into the defensive corps.  The Coyotes have balanced scoring across the board.

2) Even Strength Scoring – Sure they have potent offense but the Kings game against the Rangers last week proved again that if the Kings face a good defensive team they have problems scoring and get frustrated in the process.

3) Defensive corps is not very good – Even with the addition of Rob Scuderi, the Kings are 28th in the league in the Penalty kill at 71.4% and 22nd in the league with a 3.30 Average Goals Against per game.

The Keys to the game:

1) Defense – The Kings have a very potent offense and Power Play units. The Coyotes will need to continue their amazing defensive play as of late and keep the Kings off the Scoreboard.

2) Stay out of the penalty box – As previously stated, the Kings have a tremendously potent Power Play (PP) unit.  Keep in mind that all of the Kings goals scored in the season opener with the Coyotes were on the PP unit.

3) Even Strength (ES) Scoring for the Coyotes – Probably one of the main parts of the Coyotes game that needs drastic improvement.  If they can find a way to have consistent ES scoring across all lines, this will be a VERY dangerous team.

Officials for tonight’s game are:

Referees – Dan Marouelli and Kyle Rehman

Linesmen – Mark Wheeler and Pierre Racicot

Notes:

• Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick just signed a 3 year deal with the team.

• This is the final game of the Coyotes 4 game home stand where they will spend the next three games on the Road against the New York Rangers, Columbus Blue Jackets, and St. Louis Blues
• Coyotes lead the league in the fewest Average Goals Against per game with 1.50