COYOTES VIDEOS

Ice Bites: Coyotes need to use win over Kings as launching pad

Jan 30, 2014, 6:27 PM | Updated: 6:27 pm

The Phoenix Coyotes (soon to be Arizona Coyotes) kicked off a four-game home stand Tuesday in the sweetest way possible: Rocking their division rival, the Los Angeles Kings.

And while the win was likely the best all-around game the Coyotes have put together this season, it’s no time to take their foot off the gas pedal. It’s time to run with the momentum and keep themselves relevant in the postseason conversation.

The team is currently a few points out of a playoff spot and only has five games before the Olympic break. Things certainly won’t get easier in a tight Western Conference race after Sochi, so the Coyotes should use Tuesday’s big win to get the ball rolling and claim the eighth spot before everyone’s eyes turn to Russia next week.

Los Angeles Kings' Mike Richards (10) battles Phoenix Coyotes' Boyd Gordon (15) for the puck after a face-off in the first period during an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 12, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Los Angeles Kings' Anze Kopitar (11), of Slovenia, gets the puck in front of Phoenix Coyotes' Lauri Korpikoski (28), of Finland, during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 12, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Los Angeles Kings' Trevor Lewis (22) skates away as Phoenix Coyotes' Oliver Ekman-Larsson (23), of Sweden; Raffi Torres (37); Michael Stone, right; and Martin Hanzal, second from right, of the Czech Republic, celebrate a goal by Mikkel Boedker during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 12, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Phoenix Coyotes' Shane Doan, right, celebrates his goal with teammate Antoine Vermette as Los Angeles Kings' Slava Voynov (26), of Russia, skates past in the first period during an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 12, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Phoenix Coyotes' Raffi Torres (37) celebrates his goal against Los Angeles Kings' Jonathan Quick (32) with teammate Shane Doan (19) as Kings' Kyle Clifford, right, and Rob Scuderi (7) gather near Quick in the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 12, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Los Angeles Kings' Jonathan Quick (32) reacts to a goal by Phoenix Coyotes' Raffi Torres, right, as Kings' Keaton Ellerby (5) skates nearby during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 12, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Phoenix Coyotes' Antoine Vermette (50) sends Los Angeles Kings' Dustin Penner (25) into the boards duirng the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 12, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Phoenix Coyotes' Mike Smith (41) gets shielded by Los Angeles Kings' Dustin Penner (25) as Kings' Mike Richards scores a goal in the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 12, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Phoenix Coyotes' Rob Klinkhammer, left, scores a goal against Jonathan Quick (32) in the third period during an NHL hockey game on Tuesday, March 12, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. The Coyotes defeated the Kings 5-2. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Phoenix Coyotes' Rob Klinkhammer (36) celebrates his goal against the Los Angeles Kings with teammate Oliver Ekman-Larsson (23), of Sweden, in the third period during an NHL hockey game on Tuesday, March 12, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. The Coyotes defeated the Kings 5-2. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) After being checked into the goal by Phoenix Coyotes' Derek Morris, Los Angeles Kings' Dustin Penner (25) is unable to get out as he is blocked in by Coyotes' Mike Smith (41) in the third period during an NHL hockey game on Tuesday, March 12, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. The Coyotes defeated the Kings 5-2. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Phoenix Coyotes' Shane Doan (19) scores a goal against Los Angeles Kings' Jonathan Quick (32) in the first period during an NHL hockey game on Tuesday, March 12, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. The Coyotes defeated the Kings 5-2. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Phoenix Coyotes' Shane Doan (19) celebrates his goal against Los Angeles Kings' Jonathan Quick (32) as Kings' Slava Voynov (26), of Russia, skates in late in the first period during an NHL hockey game on Tuesday, March 12, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. The Coyotes defeated the Kings 5-2. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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