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L.A. Kings: The Stanley Cup Champions face off against division rivals in split game

By Catherine Silverman

Apr 2, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings defenseman Willie Mitchell (33) and Phoenix Coyotes left wing Rob Klinkhammer (36) chase down the puck in the third period of the game at Staples Center. Kings won 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 2, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings defenseman Willie Mitchell (33) and Phoenix Coyotes left wing Rob Klinkhammer (36) chase down the puck in the third period of the game at Staples Center. Kings won 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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The puck has dropped, and the games are under way.

The L.A. Kings are starting out the preseason in a two-game split against the Arizona Coyotes.

The two games, which are being played at Staples Center in Los Angeles and the newly-renamed Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona, will each feature a different mix of veterans and prospects in an attempt to showcase different line combinations before the final rosters need to be set.

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    • In Arizona, both teams are showcasing their starting goaltenders, as perennial Vezina nominee Jonathan Quick and goal-scoring Mike Smith start in net for their respective clubs. The two teams are also showcasing their hottest up-and-coming forwards in the game at Gila River Arena; the Coyotes have Max Domi and Henrik Samuelsson skating on the first line together, while the Kings have brought their infamous trio of Jeff Carter, Tyler Toffoli, and Tanner Pearson to the desert.

    In L.A., though, things will be just as fierce. Offensively-minded defenseman Keith Yandle has been sent to Staples Center, as has the team’s sleeper forward Mikkel Boedker and superstar 2014 first-round pick Brendan Perlini.

    The Kings are coming off of a Stanley Cup championship, but this doesn’t mean that the Coyotes will be an easy sweep. In the two-game miniseries played by the LA and Arizona rookie teams this past week, each team netted a win- the Coyotes took home the first game with a 4-1 victory, while the Kings netted the second win 3-1.

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