Even though they split their six-game regular season series vs. the Coyotes last year, the Kings earned points in the last four of those contests (2-0-2). They’ve also earned points in eight of the last night games vs Phoenix, posting a 6-1-2 record.
Tonight will mark the first of five meetings this season and LA desperately needs a win, as they’ve managed only one point in their first three games of this season (0-2-1).
Tonight’s game also holds special significance because it’s the first time the two rivals will be on the ice together since the 2012 Western Conference Final.
Things didn’t exactly end peacefully last May either. There was a controversial hit by Dustin Brown, an overtime goal by Dustin Penner and then plenty of confusion in the handshake line.
Still, Kings center Anze Kopitar is doing his best to look ahead and not in his rear-view mirror.
“For them, I guess there’s revenge from the series last year a little bit,” he told MayorsManor. “But you know, for us, I don’t really think it’s a big deal. We just have to go in there and focus on our game really. You know, what happened happened, and we have to move ahead.”
Easy to say when you went on to win the Stanley Cup.
Kopitar, the team’s leading scorer over the past five seasons, has yet to record a point in two games played this year. If his career stats tell a story though, it’s that tonight could be his night to break through.
In 39 career games vs. Phoenix he’s recorded 38 points (10 goals, 28 assists).
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