This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
LA Kings defeat Phoenix Coyotes 4-0. Stick a fork in them, the Coyotes are done. Granted the Kings only have a 2-0 series lead thanks to Jeff Carter's hat trick. But the clawing desperation shown by the Coyotes and their cheap hits in the latter stages of the Kings' victory was an indication that this was over.
"Obviously being down 2-0, that's not the results we were looking for at home," Coyotes' head coach Dave Tippett said. "We've got to regroup tomorrow, go in there and try to steal a game on the road."
The Coyotes did come out better in the first period and did a better job of containing the top line of Dustin Brown, Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams. But in Game 2 the second line of Jeff Carter, Mike Richards and Dustin Penner exploded all over the Coyotes highlighted by the first Kings' postseason hat trick since Wayne Gretzky's triumph on the road in Toronto in Game 7 of the 1993 Campbell Conference Finals.
"It's something that I've been working on in practice, trying to get to the net during the game, get a couple greasy ones," Carter said. "I was lucky enough tonight."
There were several questionable hits: Shane Doan's boarding call on Trevor Lewis and Martin Handzal's boarding on Dustin Brown. Both were five-minute majors and resulted in game misconducts. But the Kings saw it as just part of a playoff game.
"I’ve probably been involved in dirtier games," Brown said. "But I think the intensity out there and the fact that we’re in the Western Conference Finals — there were some hits out there that weren’t good, but it’s one of those things where guys are playing hard."
King's head coach Darryl Sutter when asked if those hits were made out of frustration, he replied, "Probably."
The series now shifts to STAPLES Center on Thursday for Game 3. The Coyotes did look better on the ice in spurts. They dug down to try and rattle the Kings. The Kings just played better.
The Kings are 10-1 in the playoffs winning a club record seven consecutive postseason games.
San Antonio Spurs defeat LA Clippers 108-92. Unlike the Lakers, the Clippers made it a valiant fight. Unfortunately the Spurs are just too good. The ageless Tim Duncan had 26 points and 10 rebounds while Manu Ginobli added 22 off the bench.
LA Angels defeat Oakland Athletics 4-0. Ervin Santana continued with his fourth straight excellent outing pitching a four-hit shutout into the eighth inning. Meanwhile Bartolo Colon flirted with disaster throughout his 6 2/3 innings giving up 12 hits allowing four to get through. Albert Pujols went 3-for-4 with two RBI upping his batting average to .212.
After the game the Angels fired hitting coach Mickey Hatcher. Triple-A Salt Lake City hitting coach Jim Eppard will replace Hatcher.
Arizona Diamondbacks defeat LA Dodgers 5-1.
TONIGHT'S ACTION
LA Lakers at Oklahoma City Thunder. 6:30 p.m. TNT, AM 710 KSPN.
LA Dodgers at San Diego Padres. 3:35 p.m. KCAL9, AM 570 KLAC.
Chicago White Sox at LA Angels. 7:05 p.m. FSWest. AM 830 KLAA.
