Long Shootout, But Kings Edge Coyotes 3-2

The Phoenix Coyotes came back from a 2-0 deficit against the Los Angeles Kings, but couldn't finish it in the shoot out, which went 8 rounds, eventually succumbing 3-2 to the Kings.

The Kings got on the board first when Oscar Moller, a recent call up from the Manchester Monarchs of the AHL, got his 1st of the season, beating Phoenix netminder Ilya Bryzgalov at 4:11 of the opening period. Right winger Wayne Simmonds carried the puck behind the Coyotes' net and fed Moller as he went to the front and the 22-year-old center snapped a quick shot past Bryzgalov's glove. Jack Johnson put the Kings up 2-0 putting in his own rebound after hitting the post from just inside the Phoenix blue line.

Scottie Upshall got his 9th to get the Coyotes within one with 3:05 left in the 1st period, as center Matthew Lombardi grabbed the puck and carried it over the Kings' blue line before passing off to Upshall who snapped a quick wrist shot past L.A.'s Jonathan Quick. No goals were scored until the 3rd period.

Phoenix right winger Radim Vrbata scored a power play goal at 3:12 of the 3rd to tie it 2-2. Peter Mueller took a point shot and center Martin Hanzal tipped it past Quick leaving Vrbata with an open net for his 8th of the year. Phoenix had the edge in shots in overtime, 4-2.

Anze Kopitar LAK Miss
Radim Vrbata PHX Save
Jack Johnson LAK Goal
Peter Mueller PHX Goal
Dustin Brown LAK Save
Shane Doan PHX Save
Wayne Simmonds LAK Save
Lauri Korpikoski PHX Miss
Michal Handzus LAK Goal
Petr Prucha PHX Goal
Scott Parse LAK Save
Matthew Lombardi PHX Save
Drew Doughty LAK Goal
Robert Lang PHX Goal
Justin Williams LAK Goal
Scottie Upshall PHX Save

In the shootout, Phoenix answered each goal the Kings scored with one of there own until Upshall couldn't get one by Quick, so Justin Williams' goal stood up as the winner. The Kings took the win, moving to 43 points on the season, one point back of the Pacific Division leading San Jose Sharks and 5 up on the Coyotes who remain in 3rd.

Phoenix mixes it up with the visiting Sharks on Saturday, and Los Angeles, also playing Saturday, host the Dallas Stars.