GLENDALE, Ariz. – Nick Shore and Dustin Brown scored for Los Angeles, but Jordan Martinook scored on a beautiful backhand goal just 22 seconds into the third period and the Arizona Coyotes defeated the Kings 3-2 at Gila River Arena on Saturday night.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Los Angleles Kings and Arizona Coyotes have quietly become an emerging Pacific Division rivalry as the two teams located just hours apart have had some exciting matches over the past two seasons.
The Coyotes entered the contest winners of two of the last three games against the Kings and have scored a point in all three this season. Arizona got on the board first with a bizarre goal midway through the first period. Michael Stone sent a slapshot into the Kings zone that went wide of the net. However, Coyotes forward Shane Doan was coming around the back of the net on the play and the puck deflected off of his body and into the net for the goal.
Arizona had a 1-0 lead in the second period when youngster Nick Shore tied the game on another strange sequence of events. Coyotes' goalie Louis Domingue came out of the net and was pushed from behind by a Kings skater, and lost his stick on the play. Shore intercepted a Coyotes pass and quickly scored in the wide open net.
The Coyotes came right back, capitalizing on multiple Kings penalties. Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored on the Arizona PP at the 9:19 mark in the second period and the Coyotes recaptured the lead.
Dustin Brown tied the game seven minutes later, when he found himself in the right place at the right time to put back a Jeff Carter rebounds and the teams were tied at 2-2 heading into the third period.
The Coyotes wasted no time taking the lead again as they scored just 22 seconds into the final period when Jordan Martinook skated past the Kings defenseman and scored on a beautiful backhand shot for the game-winning goal.
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Milan Lucic was ejected from the game midway through the third period and received a five-minute major penalty for game misconduct after he punched Kevin Connauton in the face for a slash seconds earlier.
Domingue made 19 saves and picked up his first win against the Los Angeles Kings in his career. Jonathan Quick also made 19 saves in the loss.
TURNING POINT
Martinook's beautiful backhand goal. The LA Kings worked hard to tie the game at 2-2 after looking sloppy for the first period and a half. However, Martinhook's beautiful backhand goal just 22 seconds into the third period deflated the Kings comeback.
MVP OF THE GAME
Shane Doan. The Coyotes forward had a goal and an assist to lead Arizona.
STAT OF THE NIGHT
Dustin Brown's second period goal was his 457th career point, tied with Mike Murphy for 11th on the LA Kings all-time scoring list.
TWEET OF THE NIGHT
PSA: it is not wise to piss of Milan Lucic. @LAKings pic.twitter.com/BYs69zw8yB — Matt DeBlasi (@MattDeBlasi) January 24, 2016
Don't mess with Looooch!
PHOTO OF THE NIGHT
Domingue had the best view of that goal IMO pic.twitter.com/xFsPQnKPGr — LA Kings (@LAKings) January 24, 2016
Down goes Domingue!
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
"We kind of put ourselves behind the eight-ball. We didn't start well, we weren't very good, and we had to chase the game." -- LA Kings captain Dustin Brown on the loss.
NOTES
The Kings entered the game having won 5 of their last 6 road games…Andy Andreoff and Jamie McBain were scratched for Los Angeles…Coyotes' goalie Mike Smith and center Joe Vitale were out with injury.
RECORD
Los Angeles Kings (29-15-3, 61 points) 1st in the Pacific Division
Arizona Coyotes (23-19-5, 51 points) 4th in the Pacific Division
WHAT'S NEXT?
Los Angeles travels north to San Jose to face their rivals in the Shark Tank on Sunday.
Arizona travels to Minnesota to take on the Wild on Monday night.
