Los Angeles at Arizona

The Los Angeles Kings closed the season on a sour note with their 3-5 record over their last eight games. Lost in what happened with this team was the fact that the defense was good all season, and kept them in games despite a futile offense. The Kings had an 11-game stretch where they scored 2 goals or less in every one of them. They closed the season scoring 3.1 goals per game over their last 19, and here we are in the playoffs, with the defense is still playing great, having allowed just 14 goals in nine games, at 1.56 per contest. That defensive prowess has them sitting at 8-1 through their first two series. The offense ripped through arguably the NHL's best defense for 15 goals in four games, and this team is now complete and dangerous going forward. Phoenix has gotten here playing well, but on a lot of the good side of breaks in pretty even games, as 6 of their 11 playoffs games have been decided in overtime. They managed to score just 3 total goals in their last three vs. Nashville, and can match LA on that end, but the difference here is that LA is now a scoring threat for 60 minutes. Play on the Kings.