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The Phoenix Coyotes actually played a pretty good game at times tonight. They had some offensive zone pressure on the Los Angeles Kings and maybe made Jonathan Quick sweat for a few seconds, particularly in the first period. Unfortunately, a goal early in the third period by series MVP(?) Dwight King was too much for the Coyotes to overcome particularly after the referees got involved later in the period.

With the Kings now holding a commanding 3-0 series lead, it's pretty much the end of the line for the Desert Dogs barring a miraculous comeback. I'd just like to see them win a game and wipe that grin off of Dustin Brown's face after he draws another retaliatory penalty.

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Continuing with our preview posts, we now get to take a look at the forwards for the Los Angeles Kings. The Phoenix Coyotes will always be told that they don't have the same level of talent (especially top end talent) as the other team and I wouldn't expect anything different for this season. The Kings have a pretty strong top six and did a lot this season and last off-season to improve that roster and they are finally starting to play the way a lot of the pundits thought they would all year.

After the jump, we'll look at it line-by-line and give some thoughts. Special thanks to Niesy over at Jewels from the Crown for giving us some insight into the line combos...check out their great Kings coverage.

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If I thought the hangover was long for the first series victory, man I'm still feeling beat after watching the Phoenix Coyotes close out the Nashville Predators on home ice Monday night. Amazing atmosphere in Jobing.com Arena and so much fun to witness in person. I'm sure the Coyotes have taken their 12 hours to celebrate and already put in a hard days work preparing for their series with the Los Angeles Kings, but you'll forgive us if we ease into it a bit. The NHL still has yet to announce when the series will start, but it's likely to be either Saturday or Sunday night.

As I'm sure you will hear more than enough of, the Kings are playing at an even higher level than the Coyotes through their first two rounds of the playoffs, composing an 8-1 record behind stellar goaltending by Jonathan Quick and amazing forward play from Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, Mike Richards and others. It's going to be a very tough series for the Coyotes, but in this year of Hockey the Hard Way, would we want it any other way?

Some basic numbers:

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The Phoenix Coyotes didn't exactly impose their will tonight on the Nashville Predators, but they did play a game that was exactly what was needed in the situation. Mike Smith recorded his seventh shutout following a loss this season, as the Coyotes take a very impressive 3-1 lead in the best of seven series with a chance to close it out on Monday night in Glendale. Shane Doan had the only goal for the Coyotes on a deflected puck that got past Pekka Rinne.

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If there's one thing that the Phoenix Coyotes were unable to do in game 3 (besides beat Pekka Rinne with any shots), it was match the Nashville Predators' intensity on the ice. Now, holding a 2-0 series lead over a team that is returning to home ice and has galvanized itself after two of its top six forwards were suspended probably isn't the best circumstance to match a team's drive, but it was certainly disappointing to see how little push the Coyotes were able to generate. Thankfully, Dave Tippett doesn't stand for these types of poor effort showings and the Desert Dogs usually bounce back nicely from them.

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Well, the respite from OT in the clinching game of the Blackhawks series was short lived for the Phoenix Coyotes, who reverted to their past habits in this postseason run allowing a late goal in the third and pushing the game into overtime for the sixth time in seven games, before beating the Nashville Predators 4-3 on a goal from the Wizard, Ray Whitney. I'm all for free hockey and getting my money's worth, but this is getting a bit hard on the heart 'Yotes...feel free to beat the Preds in regulation going forward, ok.

This was certainly not the game that most pundits expected to see heading into this series with seven combined goals being scored, but it was a good testament to how hard fought the games will be regardless of the elevated goal totals. Through 40 minutes, the stats were remarkably similar before everything got skewed as the Coyotes collapsed into a defensive shell (or Nashville shook off its rust, depending on the story you are trying to tell).

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Well, Phoenix Coyotes fans, I have some good news. The Nashville Predators do not have forwards that are quite as seemingly offensively gifted as Chicago...no Toews, Kane, Sharp, Hossa, Stalberg rolling in a seeming endless cycle for 60 minutes in this series. Which isn't to say that Nashville isn't talented up front, because they have some pretty good forwards as we will discuss after the jump. But I think this match-up is a lot closer than the last series was, and that's a very good thing.

The goal for the Coyotes will remain the same, though - keep these forwards off of the scoreboard as much as possible and counterstrike as opportunities present themselves. Unlike Chicago, however, Nashville will probably take a very similar approach to this series.

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The hangover is wearing off slowly and it's already time to start thinking about the next round (I know this is new for us, but apparently as the Phoenix Coyotes keep advancing, we get to look at new organizations and see how the Coyotes may stack up over a 7 game series...crazy talk). The Nashville Predators are a kinda pseudo-Coyotes - non-traditional market, good goaltending, depth on the blue line, nothing too flashy up front, excellent coaching. As we did with Chicago, we'll break it down section by section over the next few days while we prep for game 1 (whenever the NHL tells us that is actually happening).

Some basic numbers:

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Wow. Just not even sure what to say about this one, but I don't think any Chicago Blackhawks fans can really complain about Andrew Shaw's 3 games in the press box any more. Brendan Shanahan has suspended Phoenix Coyotes forward Raffi Torres for 25 games for his hit on Marian Hossa, or the entire rest of the playoffs if the Coyotes were to reach the Stanley Cup Finals and each series went 7 games. The suspension will carry forward into next season.

Shanahan's suspension video is after the jump. The picture above is courtesy of www.azchatfield.net and was tweeted by Coyotes color analyst Tyson Nash...

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The Phoenix Coyotes aren't being kind to my heart...or any of their fans' hearts. For the third time in four games against the Chicago Blackhawks, the Desert Dogs took a one goal lead into the final 90 seconds before allowing the tying goal. Thankfully, as in game one, the Coyotes rallied in overtime, survived a few opportunities from Chicago and then Mikkel Boedker took a chip from Boyd Gordon, rushed up ice, and pushed one past Corey Crawford for the second straight game, to give the Coyotes a 3-2 victory in Game 4, and a 3-1 lead in the series.

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For the Phoenix Coyotes, there were a lot of positives to take from the two games in Glendale, including holding leads in regulation with under a minute to go while having to shuffle lines to account for a growing body count among the forward ranks. Unfortunately, those two last minute goals make it really hard to focus on those positives at a time like this. But even with all of that, the series remains even and the Coyotes head into the United Center to face the Chicago Blackhawks in good position to take a game or two.

Andrew Shaw has been suspended 3 games for his run-in with Mike Smith (which I personally think is a bit much, but probably for the best), so no reason for the Coyotes not to be fully focused on getting the job done to win tonight's game without turning this into a Pittsburgh - Philly deathmatch.

An abbreviated preview today because it's my birthday and I have family stuff to do...so Go Coyotes and win this one as your birthday present to me, ok?!?!?

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Brendan Shanahan has made a mess of things recently after his pretty solid start to his tenure as the NHL's player disciplinarian. But if you take out the complete miscue on the lack of suspension for Shea Weber, maybe things make a bit more sense.

Pursuant to the NHL's disciplinary czar, Andrew Shaw has been suspended three games for his reckless hit against Mike Smith during the second period of game two in Glendale on Saturday night. The hit, which occurred as Smith played the puck in the trapezoid and Shaw came charging behind the net. Shaw caught Smith in the mask with his shoulder and sent him pirouetting through the air to crash to the ice sans helmet.

Smith stayed on the ice for several minutes as the team doctor's came out to evaluate his condition. He would remain in the game although he is listed as a game time decision for tonight's contest. Shaw was assessed a 5 minute match penalty and a game misconduct.

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The Phoenix Coyotes gave their fans a bit of a scare tonight by giving up a game tying goal to the Chicago Blackhawks' Brent Seabrook with only 14 seconds remaining in regulation. But Martin Hanzal deflected an Adrian Aucoin shot past Corey Crawford 9:29 into the first overtime period and the Phoenix Coyotes jump out to a 1-0 lead in the series.

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It's go time in Glendale, with the Phoenix Coyotes ready to put their Pacific Division title to use hosting the Chicago Blackhawks for Game 1 of the best-of-seven series. We've already looked at the Blackhawks up and down, and we've assumed that you have a pretty good idea of what's going on with the Coyotes. After the jump, the crew takes a look at who might be the difference makers in the series and our predictions. Also, a bonus Five For Winning to get things started.

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There will be a lot said about the forward match-up in this series from a variety of sources, but I'm guessing you'll see one consistent theme throughout. The Chicago Blackhawks have more top tier talent at the forward position, but the Phoenix Coyotes maybe have a little more depth in their third and fourth units. I definitely agree with the first part of that statement, and I mostly agree with the second part, although I don't think Chicago is exactly afraid of rolling four lines on any given night. After the jump, let's get a better feel for the offensive weapons that Coach Q will likely send against the Desert Dogs starting on Thursday.

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Hockey folks will tell you, the playoffs are a whole different animal. What happened in the regular season is in the past and everything that comes after the puck drops on Thursday night in Glendale will not have a lick to do with what happened back in October, or November, or December, or February. But that's no reason not to take a quick look at the four games that the Phoenix Coyotes have already played against the Chicago Blackhawks to refresh our memory about the good, the not-so-good and everything else.

So, after the jump, we'll quickly look at each game this season and see if there's something that the teams may look to focus on as they prepare for this best of seven first round series.

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The Phoenix Coyotes went into St. Louis with the ability to control their own destiny in the Pacific Division race and the quest for the number 3 seed in the Western Conference. Standing in their way, a Blues team that had dominated the three previous match-ups this season with suffocating defense and a surprising amount of offense. Although the Coyotes were riding a three-game winning streak (all Mike Smith shutouts), nobody in the locker room seemed particularly happy with how they were playing as a team and there was a goal to get back to Coyotes-hockey.

Consider this mission accomplished in a big way. The Coyotes played a tenacious game from the opening puck drop, and aside from a slow down in the final 10 minutes of the first half, they took the play to the Blues, never allowing St. Louis to get the lead and clamp down in their defensive trap style. And although Mike Smith was unable to continue his impressive shutout streak, he did allow only 1 goal against, as the Coyotes jumped into first place in the Pacific with a 4-1 victory.

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The Phoenix Coyotes knew it was a must-win type of situation against a team that they haven't beaten all season. The Columbus Blue Jackets weren't ready to go down without a fight, putting 54 shots and 30+ scoring chances, but Mike Smith was the proverbial brick wall in goal making saves both spectacular and otherwise. And while the offense wasn't probably where Dave Tippett would have liked it to be, he got enough of a push from the Coyotes in the second period with 2 goals within 2:03 of each other for the 2-0 win.

We could explain the goals a bit more, but they are in the bullet point notes - let's just say it one more time before the jump: MIKESMITHMIKESMITHMIKESMITHMIKESMITH...

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The Phoenix Coyotes are in control of their own destiny with just three games left to play. Winning out will assure them of a spot in the playoffs, and with the match-ups for their Pacific Division foes including several head-to-head games, it might even take significantly less to make the postseason. Of course, the Coyotes really want to take the Pacific Division crown and the home ice advantage that comes with it, so getting all 6 points over the final week will be key.

In the first game of the week, the Coyotes will get a chance to exact some revenge against a team that has had their number all year, even if they haven't had anyone else's number, the Columbus Blue Jackets. The BJs are on pace to the worst record in the NHL, but that hasn't stopped them from dominating the Coyotes in 3 match-ups so far this season, and also playing a pretty impressive string of games recently. Columbus is riding a three game winning streak against teams all headed to the postseason in Detroit, Florida and President Trophy hopeful St. Louis. The Coyotes will need to bring their A game to Glendale tomorrow night to secure the much needed 2 points.

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It was nothing short of a playoff game and a must-win game for the Phoenix Coyotes as they hosted the San Jose Sharks who were coming off of a loss in Anaheim last night. The well-rested Coyotes welcomed back to the lineup Radim Vrbata, Shane Doan and Adrian Aucoin and all three would have strong games, with Vrbata taking the cake. In an all around team effort, the Coyotes pushed the Sharks out of a playoff spot, leapfrogging both the Sharks and idle Los Angeles to move into the 7th spot in the Western Conference with a 2-0 shutout victory.

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There wasn't a dramatic come from behind feel to the game tonight, but the Phoenix Coyotes will probably be perfectly happy with that, as they stormed into Rexall Place and continued their winning ways in February. The Coyotes have a 10-0-1 record for the month and look to round out the impressive run on Tuesday against the team that has given them their only blemish since the calendar turned over.

Mike Smith continued his strong play with his 10th consecutive victory despite the boos raining down from the crowd after a first period play where Ben Eager was called for goaltender interference and the Canadian crowd felt Smithy went down a bit easy. His shutout bid was halted midway through the third on a nice deflection by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in his first game back from a shoulder injury. For the Coyotes, two first period goals set the stage for this game, with Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Ray Whitney getting on the board for the Coyotes. Shane Doan added a third period goal to extend the lead back to two goals and seal this victory for the Desert Dogs!

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LET'S GO COYOTES!!!!!

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