Game 58: Coyotes 6, Kings 3

"I thought it was maybe the best we've played all season long," said Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky in the AP story. "Our guys played really hard and we did a lot of good things. We got off to a good start and then got behind, but we kept coming back at them."

Well, if they keeping bringing out the best in teams, the Kings may find themselves out of the playoffs. Even if they are better than other teams ahead of them in the standings. The Kings dropped an absolute doodie Saturday afternoon at Staples, to a team that has lost six of their last eight games.

How about former first round pick Olli Jokinen? Sent to the Islanders in a package deal for Ziggy Palffy and some change, the Finnish player has etched out quite a career for himself, culminating in him recording his 500th point against the team that drafted him back in 1997. Good for you, Olli.

I had pondered earlier that maybe the reason the Kings have been losing at home was because of the ice. My next hypothesis is well-covered territory to fellow Kings conspiracy theorists either. It has to be because of the Gretzky statue. Ever since they erected that thing in 2002, the Kings have been cursed. They have missed the playoffs for five seasons, the longest span in franchise history.

Whatever the reason, the Kings better start getting focused. They now kick off a five-game road trip, traveling to such exotic locales as Philadelphia, Columbus and Detroit. Maybe they can take ownership of that Kings of the Road mantle, and claw their way into contention.

• AP: Jokinen scores hat trick, gets 500th point in Coyotes' win

After allowing an average of 32 shots on net over their previous three games, the Coyotes held the Kings without one until the 8 1/2-minute mark, when Jack Johnson's wrist shot from above the left circle was handled by Bryzgalov.

• LA Times:  Clearly, the Kings still don't get it

The Coyotes were 2-9 since the All-Star break, but their fleet forwards easily gained the slot and operated happily around the Kings' net. They weren't taking the path of least resistance -- it was the path of no resistance.

• Yahoo: Team report

The Kings’ hopes for making the playoffs are still legitimate, but they won’t be for long with a few more efforts such as this one. The Kings once again gave up the first goal of the game, then fought back to take a 2-1 lead but then collapsed and allowed four consecutive goals. The Kings missed an opportunity to, at least temporarily, move into ninth place in the Western Conference.

They said it

“We’re pretty disappointed with that and it was a huge two points we needed to get. We’re not quitting. We need to bounce back. We obviously like the road so we’re looking forward to that and hopefully we keep getting points every game.”—Kings defenseman Kyle Quincey.

Looking through purple-hued goggles

• The Royal Half: Pre-game activity

I was a bit early to the Los Angeles Kings matinee game against the Phoenix Coyotes today, so I decided to spend a little time walking around the AEG owned and operated LA Live that I've heard so much about from the infomercials that play in between periods during the broadcasts of the AEG owned and operated Los Angeles Kings.

Editor's note: Chris has a hilarious breakdown of his afternoon at LA Live. Too much to choose from, just go check it out...
• Battle Of California: It only took 50 games

Meanwhile, can anyone figure out what's going on with the defensive pairings?  Doughty and O'Donnell usually play together but then Doughty plays about 5 extra shifts a game with (what seems like) every other defenseman on the roster.  Greene and Johnson play together except on the power play or penalty kill or when one of them is in the box, so that usually adds up to about 3 minutes a game.  And Kyle Quincey... is he playing with Gauthier, I guess?  I swear, I see him with a different linemate and in a different situation every time he's out on the ice.  Anyone help out here?

• Frozen Royalty: Home Cooking Too Rich For Kings

“Maybe a few days ago, I would’ve said we have to score some more, so things change,” coach Murray elaborated. “We’re just trying to find it right now. Giving up the number of goals at home here is a concern. We have to be better defensively. We’ve got elite teams that we’re going to be playing against here in front of us, good goal scoring teams. We’ve got to make sure we’re checking the right way.”

• Examiner.com: Kings look to "Doctor Quincey" to cure playoff illness

If you were looking for a way to really stump even the most ardent of Los Angeles Kings fans, ask them the following question: which player leads all Kings defensemen in assists, points, and shots, and is second in both minutes played and plus/minus rating? The correct answer has been one of many reasons why the Kings find themselves in the thick of the Western Conference playoff chase.
Not Quincy M.E., but Quincey R.D. (for right defenseman).

Peeping the dailies