Kings at Coyotes
THE STORY: Two players approaching milestones will lock horns Thursday when the Los Angeles Kings take on the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena. Los Angeles goaltender Jonathan Quick's next victory will be the 100th of his career. The 25-year old notched his 99th win on Tuesday, when he stopped 27 shots against the St. Louis Blues for his 15th career shutout. Quick will become the third goalie to hit the century mark with the franchise, joining Rogie Vachon (171) and Kelly Hrudey (145). For Phoenix, captain Shane Doan is one shy of 300 career goals. Doan has tallied in just two of the Coyotes' five games thus far but leads the team with seven points. The Pacific Division rivals split their six-game series last season, with Phoenix capturing the first three and the Kings taking the final three.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, FSN West (Los Angeles), FSN Arizona (Phoenix)
ABOUT THE KINGS (3-1-1): Quick's shutout on Tuesday was Los Angeles' first against St. Louis at home since Feb. 22, 1977, when Vachon accomplished the feat. The Kings went 60 home games vs. the Blues between blankings. The line of Anze Kopitar, Justin Williams and Simon Gagne has scored nine of Los Angeles' 14 goals this season. Kopitar leads the way with four. Quick, who has allowed just five goals in four games, is 18-4-3 lifetime in October.
ABOUT THE COYOTES (2-2-1): Phoenix registered a season-low 16 shots on goal in Tuesday's 5-2 home loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. The Coyotes had recorded at least 29 shots in each of their first four contests. Mike Smith figures to be back in goal Thursday after serving as backup to Jason LaBarbera on Tuesday. Smith has faced Los Angeles six times in his career, going 5-1 with one shutout and a 1.51 goals-against average.
OVERTIME:
1. Quick is one shutout behind Jamie Storr for second place on the Kings' all-time list. Vachon is first with 32 blankings.
2. Los Angeles' Anze Kopitar has gone eight games against Phoenix without a goal, his longest drought vs. any team.