Kings Beat Coyotes In Shootout 3-2, Clinch NHL Playoff Spot

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Jarret Stoll scored the winner in the shootout and the Los Angeles Kings punched their ticket to the playoffs with a 3-2 win over the Phoenix Coyotes. Coming into the contest, the winner of the game would become the fourth team in the Western Conference to clinch a playoff spot. Stoll scored in the second round with a wrister off the right corner post, his eighth straight goal on a shootout attempt, to give Los Angeles a two-goal lead in the shootout, but Radim Vrbata waited out Jonathan Quick to keep Phoenix alive.

After Dustin Brown banged a low shot off the right post, Quick made a blocker save on Lauri Korpikoski for the win. Kyle Clifford and Stoll each had a goal for the Kings, who have made it to the postseason for the second straight year and currently sit in the fourth spot in the Western Conference with 98 points, one ahead of Nashville and Phoenix. All three teams have two games to play.

Quick, who is 10-0 in shootouts this year, stopped 33 shots for the win. Lee Stempniak and Taylor Pyatt each had a goal and an assist for the Coyotes, who have dropped three of four. Ilya Bryzgalov made 31 stops in the loss.

For more information on the Kings or tonight's game, be sure to read Jewels From The Crown.

Kings Host Coyotes In Battle For Playoff Spot, Positioning

The Los Angeles Kings hope tonight will be a coronation at Staples Center as they try to clinch a playoff spot, hosting the Phoenix Coyotes. Both the Kings and Coyotes are tied for the fifth spot in the Western Conference, just a point behind Nashville for the fourth spot. In fact, if tonight's game goes to overtime, both teams will clinch a playoff spot regardless of who wins. Here are the relevant details of tonight's game:

• Combatants: Kings (96 pts, 45-28-6); Coyotes (96 pts, 42-25-12)
• Location: Staples Center, downtown Los Angeles
• Time: 7:30 p.m. PDT
• TV: Fox Sports West
• Previous Matchups: the Kings are 2-3 against Phoenix this season, including 1-1 at Staples Center

If it doesn't happen tonight, the Kings are still likely to clinch a playoff spot in the next few days, as they simply need Dallas to lose one of it's final three games. The Kings are in southern California to close out their regular season. After tonight, they play the Ducks twice, Friday in Anaheim and Saturday in Los Angeles.

For more information on the Kings or tonight's game, be sure to read Jewels From The Crown.