When both Conference championships are between teams that are in the same division in each conference (Atlantic in the East, Pacific in the West), the teams tend to know each other very well. The Rangers and Devils have a history between the two of them, and that series is progressing to be a good one (series tied 1-1). Los Angeles and Phoenix have little history other than regular season matchups. The Kings are up 2-0 in the series, have lost one game in the playoffs so far (that against Vancouver at the Kings), and now are taking the series the short travel distance from the dessert to the city of angels. Phoenix lost Game 2 because they played dirty, made penalties, which cause mistakes, which cause goals against your team. Before last night, Phoenix had given up only 4 goals in almost 40 power plays during the playoffs, they gave up two last night. A 5 on 3 should resolve in a goal, so I won't blame Mike Smith, but I blame his teammates for hitting the Kings in the numbers the way they know is not tolerated by refs (especially in the playoffs). Phoenix will probably get one win in this series, but the Kings are looking really good as the West rep. for the Cup.
-Kings the 2nd team in the last three years to win 7 straight road playoff games. Last time to do that was Chicago in 2010 (Won Stanley Cup).
-Phoenix's Martin Hanzal suspended one game for boarding Dustin Brown. Brown is frustrating the Coyotes, and it's showing
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