It's A Goalie Duel Out West

Last night the Phoenix Coyotes took an early 2-0 lead and never looked back as they help onto knock out the five seeded Predators. Coming into this playoffs, the Predators were looking like they were in perfect position to make a big run for the Stanley Cup. After ousting Detroit in just five games, they set their site on the Coyotes. However, Captain Shane Doan and his boys had other plans, sending the Predators home with tons of question marks upcoming in their offseason. This story is not about the Predators though, it's about the cool and calm three seeded Coyotes heading into a battle with the red hot Los Angeles Kings.

On paper, this matchup seems like a gimme for the Kings. Only the names Anze Kopitar, Mike Richards, and Jeff Carter have to be mentioned and they already have more high profile names than the Coyotes have. On defense, the Kings are mixed with great veterans and skilled young kids while the Coyotes have 12 defensemen listed on their website roster. In goal, the Kings have a possible annual Vezina contender in Jonathon Quick while the Coyotes have Mike Smith, who is finally finding success this year after rough tenures elsewhere. When it comes down to it though, this series will not be easy for either team, and the Western Conference representing Stanley Cup team could be the Coyotes just as well as it could be the Kings.

Here is how their systems will match up. The Kings offense is speedy and moves the puck well. They have tons of talent with Kopitar, Richards, and Carter mixed in with Dustin Brown and Justin Williams. They also have depth with Jared Stoll, Dwight King, Brad Richardson, and Dustin Penner. The Coyotes will counter their attack with Keith Yandle, Derek Morris, Michal Rozsival, and others. Mike Smith has been a great story in net leading the cinderalla Coyotes this far in the playoffs. The defense does a great job of both blocking shots and keeping opponents to the outside. They also clear away rebounds well and have 6'4" Smith to back them up. The Kings will try to get pucks on net and crash using their speed. They will also try to use their defense as they have been doing to create scoring chances. The Coyotes will have to watch for the odd man rushes as the Kings break out well with speed. 

On the other end, Shane Doan will be joined with Radim Vrbata, Ray Whitney, and Martin Hanzal on the Coyotes offense. The Coyotes don't have the best offense, but give all out effort and will attack with four lines that can show speed and physicality. The Kings have a very good defense with Willie Mitchell, Rob Scuderi, and Matt Greene protecting Quick. Drew Doughty and Slava Voynov have been stellar all playoffs. Then there is the best playoff goaltender so far in Jonathon Quick, a Vezina contender. The Kings will pressure the puck and force the Coyotes into bad plays. The Coyotes will counter with hard work and trying to get as many pucks to Quick as possible, hoping he either makes a mistake or gives some type of rebound. It will be a physical battle on this forefront. 

Both coaches Dave Tippett (Coyotes) and Darryl Sutter (Kings) have done great things so far with their respective clubs. With the way they have both been playing it will be no surprise when one of them advance over the other. Although I think the Coyotes are a great team and can win the series, I think the Kings just have way to many great players to lose this series. The goalie matchup will be interesting and I don't expect Mike Smith to give an inch, however, Quick has been so good all season and he has no reason to stop that. The Kings will win the series in six games as my prediction, sending them to the Stanley Cup for the first time since Wayne Gretzky led them in 1993. They lost that series in five games, losing games two through four in overtime.