Jack Johnson's Got Skills; Kings 3, Phoenix 2 (SO)

So I'm starting to get sick and can't focus for long stretches, thus I will keep this short and sweet. We all love bullet points, correct?

• The Los Angeles Kings gain another two points over the Phoenix Coyotes in a 3-2 shootout victory on Thursday night. As of this morning, the Kings are a mere two points shy of the Pacific Division-leading San Jose Sharks. The Kings play the Dallas Stars tonight and another victory will bring the sort of happiness to the hearts of Kings fans that is not very often felt.
• Oscar Moller scored his first goal of the season on the sweetest shot over Ilya Bryzgalov's left shoulder. Just to illustrate how awesome Moller is, he wasn't on the ice for more than 7 minutes the entire game! 6:49 to be exact.
• Jack Johnson's goal from the high slot was almost a heart breaker, but he got the lucky bounce back right to him to get his third of the season (once again) over Bryzgalov's left shoulder.
• In the longest shootout in Kings history, only two Kings scored while Jonathan Quick was the wall on the other side of the rink.
  
• I must admit, Alexander Frolov is making himself noticed on the first line creating his own chances and grinding it out, but I will also say that the first line lacks the spark from the beginning of the season. I think everyone sees that, but there's no mistaking this current first line can notch some points.
• This has to have been the most exciting game against the Coyotes in recent memory. I wasn't bored in the first 10 minutes of the game and it was a nail biter to the end.
  

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Kings Practice & Another Go With The Yotes (PT)

Kings Practice and Player Transactions:
- Fro's brother is in So Cal and he was there watching the guys on the ice. They DEFINITELY look related.
- Brian Boyle was reassigned to Manchester (Feb. 17).
- Lauri Tukonen was recalled from Manchetser.
- During practice Cloutier was letting in soft goals, but of the rebound kind. I don't like how he frantically searches about for his rebounds. It doesn't instill too much confidence for me... And I still don't like his helmet. Maybe if he was as good as Hasek, I wouldn't mind it. Hrm.
- On Tukonen: I wasn't that impressed. I was definitely impressed when Purcell was recalled, but I guess there's a reason why Purcell is a stud in the AHL while Tukonen is just a foot soldier. I have no idea what he was putting up in Manchester, but maybe he'll make me eat my words in tonight's game. I hope so.
- I FREAKING HEART JEFF GIULIANO!!!

Pre-Game:
- The Kings played the Coyotes on Saturday without much success, so...let's hope for a W. We seriously can't lose ALL 8 GAMES against the Coyotes this season. I REFUSE!!!
- My thoughts go to Mickey Renaud's family and friends. He was 19 years old, the captain of the Ontario Hockey League's Windsor Spitfires, and Calgary Flames prospect (2007: 143). He collapsed in his home and was pronounced dead at noon today. Again my heart goes out to all those effected by this tragic occurrence.

1st Period:
- Bryz is NOT in net!!! Sweet!! We got Mikael Tellqvist tonight.
- The play is starting out hard and fast. JJ got a big hit off and Tukonen went for a hit but took the worst of that one. Ouch.
- Kings PK - Coyotes Goal - Jovanovski...uhh...yeah (3:45).
- Coyotes Goal - The pace started to pick up with bodies all over the place; the Kings set up a good trap but there was a turnover at the Kings blueline, and Vrbata gets a breakaway toward Barbs (5:06). They get 2 goals in 1:21. Crap.
- I think the problem is that with 6 minutes in, we have ZERO shots on net.
- At 11:54 - I just saw Purcell execute two plays in a row that the Kings practiced this morning. I actually think that's pretty cool.
- Dallman - HIT on Perrault. Nice.
- Sully, Purcell, and Fro on a line. Hmm... Crawford, Crawford, Crawford.
- Kings PK - This is actually a really good kill. The Kings have possession and are holding on to the puck. They're also getting shots on in a short-handed situation.
- Kings PP - The Coyotes do a good job on this kill. Blah.

2nd Period:
- Note to Jack: Don't pick your nose on the bench please.
- Coyotes Goal - Carcillo pulls and drags around Dallman and backhands it over Barbs shoulder (4:16).
- Halfway through the period: the Kings are getting some good shots on, but the Coyotes are cycling well and not letting the Kings get too set in their plays. The Kings are getting pushed out of the zone.
- Coyotes Goal - Winnik goes to the net with 3 Kings softly backchecking (12:40). Grr...
- 2nd period = The Kings are back on their heels because the Coyotes are aggressively forechecking, backchecking, getting shots on, uhhh, is there anything else? This is so sloppy!!
- Kings PP - That was terrible.
- I must say, Lauri Tukonen has been completely invisible. Boyle anyone? Perhaps some Moulson? I'd even take Harrold!
- Kings PP - Uhh...
- I'm kind of embarrassed....the Kings have 17 giveaways to the Yotes 8. And of course, we have less shots on.

3rd Period:
- Nothing impressive in the first 10 minutes until the fight between Ivanans and Carcillo. I was unaware that Carcillo was only 5'9". I'm giving this one to Raitis, obviously.
- This is where the Kings decide to pick up their pace and aggressiveness. Sully and Brownie get a short-handed opportunity; Sully is tripped up (slew-footed) and Brownie is slashed but only one that is called is the one for Sully. Brownie is pissed and starts throwing his body around where ever he has an open shot.
- At 17:48 Army and Carcillo get 10-minute misconducts and leave for the locker room.
- Kings PP - Can they break the shut out?.......... Negative.

Game:
- Kings 0, Coyotes 4 (0 for 6 against the Coyotes. Amazing.)
- Shots: Kings 34, Yotes 29 (3rd period: 17, 5. Can we say trying to make up for not showing up for the first 40 minutes??)

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On The Road Again - Clouts In Net (For 2 Periods)

Pre-game:
- Is there anyone out there watching the Kings at the Jobbing Dot Com arena?
- Dan Cloutier is in net as so is Bryz.
- I will update after each period.

1st Period:
- Cammy's back in the line up and Dallman is suited up again; Willsie and Thornton are scratched. Gretzky's hair is looking very Hollywood and it's got some nice flow to it.
- The Kings gets some opportunities and close calls against Bryz but so do the Coyotes against Clouts. For some reason I'm not too nervous for this game. Maybe I shouldn't underestimate the Coyotes.
- Ivanans gets a hooking penalty and the Kings are on the PK. Sully is applying some good pressure out on the point man. Coyotes Goal - Jovanovski scored through traffic at 5:50 and Crawford is beyond pissed.
- The top line gets a big rush to the net. I really like this line's lateral passes coming across the blue line. Although it's only when Sully doesn't pass it back to the blue line when no one is there. Why do you do that so much, Sully? You gotta be selfish sometimes.
- Kings Goal - JJ keeps the puck in the zone at the blueline, Purcell picks it up and cycles it in deeper, Ivanans (3) then picks it up and tosses it at the net with Boyle providing a screen at 8:30. DAMN.
- I really don't like Clouts' helmet...especially because it's just a solid color.
- Coyotes Goal - Perrault snaps a high shot off from a severe angle after getting the puck with no men on at 15:29. Clouts was caught off balance and the Coyotes are up 2-1.
- JJ is getting really good at getting a player who enters his zone off the puck; I like that he's not being as passive as he has been.

2nd Period:
- The first 2 minutes of this period the Kings are keeping the puck in the offensive zone and they already have 4 shots on net, which is a good sign of the Kings coming out fast early.
- The Coyotes are definitely more physical on the Kings top line than on their other lines.
- Boyle makes a good hit behind Bryz about 5 minutes in; I like that he not only uses his size but that he also has soft hands on the puck. This is his 8th NHL game and he has 4 goals and 1 assist. Beastly.
- Coyotes Goal - ..by Brad Stuart (Winnik) at 6:44. That definitely wouldn't have gone in, but I'm not gonna knock Stuart's effort on trying to get back to help out Clouts.
- There is a mad, mad scramble after JJ takes a bomb toward the net. Boyle is in front of the net trying to get a rebound and he's taken to the ice by falling over Bryz. Ballard and Boyle both are off for 2 minutes and it's a 4-on-4. Stressful moment = A Coyote takes a shot on from inside the blueline, Clouts stops it but can't find it!!! My god, if that went in.....
- Kings PP - After one minute, Kopi takes a hooking penalty and it's 4-on-4. They can't clear it and the Coyotes are up for one minute.
- Kings PK - Bench minor against the Kings at 14:21. Crap. Ok, that was just about the funniest PK I've ever seen. Stuart's stick gets caught up in Clouts' equipment somehow and Clouts is just looking ridiculous with a stick coming out of his padding. Stuart tries to grab at it, but is unsuccessful until the 3rd try. Jim Fox says that if he had made a save, it would probably have been a stick save. HILARIOUS.
- Kings PP - Weak. Period is over and the Kings have won only 14 faceoffs compared to the Coyotes 24. Bleh.
- Carcillo receives an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after the horn blows.

3rd Period:
- Barbs is in net for this last period...and apparently Clouts isn't on the bench.
- Kings PP - Kings Goal - Cammy passes the puck to Stuart who shots it toward the net, and Brownie (26) redirects it past Bryz 37 seconds in.
- Brownie upends a Coyote and his skate blade hits Boyle's visor dead on...oh my god. If he wasn't wearing that visor...
- Kings PP - I like seeing Purcell getting some specialty team minutes. He got some time on the 4-on-4 early and he's out there now. Boyle and Ballard are going at it with their bodies and their mouths. (Side note: Boyle's hair is very late 90s.)
-13 minutes left and the pace is getting faster and more scrappy.
- Kings Goal - Fro (16) gets the goal after a long shot from Stuart at 8:38. Fro's got 12 points in the last 7 games. QUITE BEASTLY.
- Kings PK - AND then Modry takes a penalty and it's a 2-man advantage for one minute for the Coyotes. JJ is hurt by a blast by Mueller and he can't get off the ice. The Kings can't clear the puck and Barbs can't grab it out of the air. This is ridiculous. Stuart doesn't have his stick now!! Coyotes Goal - Vrbata at 12:54. That just fucking sucked. The Kings were exhausted and couldn't get the puck out of their zone. How frustrating. Coyotes are up by one, 4-3.
- 6 minutes left and JJ is going to the dressing room. 3:25 left and JJ is back! Whew!
- The Yotes have 16 shots on while the Kings only have 6. What the hell.
- 1 minute left and they pull Barbs. The Coyotes are controlling the neutral zone and the Kings can't get in the zone to set anything up.

Game:
- Kings 3, Coyotes 4
- That was frustrating; Jim Fox said it best when he said that "the effort was there."

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