WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS PREVIEW
LOS ANGELES KINGS VS. PHOENIX COYOTES
Last round: LA def. St. Louis 4-0; Phoenix def. Nashville 4-1
Leading scorers: Kings – Dustin Brown 9 GP, six goals, five assists, 11 points, Anze Kopitar 9 3-7 10, Mike Richards 9 3-5 8. Goalie – Jonathan Quick – 8-1, 1.55 goals-against average, .950 saves percentage.
Coyotes – Antoine Vermette 11 5-4 9, Rostislav Klesla 10 2-5 7, Mikkel Boedker 11 3-4 7. Goalie – Mike Smith 8-3, 1.77 GAA, .950 SP.
Spotlight on: Dustin Brown – The Kings’ captain was almost traded at the NHL deadline this season, as the Kings were stagnant in the standings. Good thing L.A. kept him, as he has had a tremendous playoffs so far.
Storyline: It’s all about the goalies. Quick and Smith has been sensational so far, with Quick even more so. The Kings have more offensive firepower, but the Coyotes play a more disciplined defensive system and Smith is there to cover up any mistakes. Don’t expect a lot of goals in this series.
Post pick: Kings in six.
Adrian Dater: 303-954-1360 or adater@denverpost.com
Western conference finals
LOS ANGELES KINGS VS. PHOENIX COYOTES
Last round: L.A. def. St. Louis 4-0; Phoenix def. Nashville 4-1
Leading scorers: Kings — Dustin Brown nine games played, six goals, five assists, 11 points, Anze Kopitar 9 3-7 10, Mike Richards 9 3-5 8. Goalie — Jonathan Quick 8-1, 1.55 goals-against average, .950 save percentage.
Coyotes — Antoine Vermette 11 5-4 9, Rostislav Klesla 10 2-5 7, Mikkel Boedker 11 3-4 7. Goalie — Mike Smith 8-3, 1.77 GAA, .950 SP.
Spotlight on: Dustin Brown — The Kings’ captain was almost traded at the NHL deadline this season, as the Kings were stagnant in the standings. Good thing L.A. kept him, as he has been tremendous in the playoffs.
Story line: It’s all about the goalies. Quick and Smith have been sensational, with Quick even more so. The Kings have more offensive firepower, but the Coyotes play a more disciplined defensive system, and Smith is there to cover up any mistakes. Don’t expect a lot of goals in this series.
Post pick: Kings in six
Adrian Dater, The Denver Post
