Despite Plenty of Zs, Kings Tie

With 20 minutes of regulation left before the start of the NHL’s Olympic break, the Kings found themselves tied with the Phoenix Coyotes on Wednesday night at Staples Center.

Knowing that a defeat would not be a good way to head into the league’s 12-day hiatus, the Kings almost pulled out a victory but ended up with a 2-2 tie, which pleased goaltender Felix Potvin, who finished with 36 saves.

“Shutouts are fun but the most important thing is to [get points],” Potvin said before the game. “We’re chasing a few teams right now, so every game is so important.

“Some nights you’ve got to make more saves than others. Some nights you may be off and they need to play better.”

With the tie, the Kings improved to 27-20-8-3 and have 65 points. If the playoffs were to start today, they would be in the postseason as the sixth-seeded team in the Western Conference.

Red hot winger Ziggy Palffy, who has been on a scoring tear over the last week, fired up a crowd of 15,964 by scoring twice, his 19th and 20th goals of the season.

He picked up a loose puck deep in the Coyotes’ zone, skated across the slot and, just when it seemed like he was ready to spin and shoot from his strong side, he caught an edge on the ice and stumbled.

But instead of quitting on the play, Palffy continued to fight off Phoenix center Daymond Langkow before he gathered himself and snapped a backhand shot from the right circle, surprising goaltender Sean Burke to put the Kings ahead, 2-1, 10:31 into the final period.

It was Palffy’s sixth goal in his last three games, which includes a hat trick at Phoenix last week.

But the Kings’ lead didn’t last long. Phoenix winger Brian Savage jumped ahead of the pack and skated away from defenseman Philippe Boucher, whose desperation dive fell short, before beating Potvin with a slick backhand shot that went between the goaltender’s legs at 12:06 to tie the score, 2-2.

It was fitting that the Kings and the Coyotes played beyond regulation because they have gone into overtime in six of their last seven meetings.

In the extra period, the Kings had a couple solid chances, but they couldn’t get the puck past Burke, who finished with 32 saves.

Although the Kings were outshot, 17-10, in the first period, they managed to take a 1-0 lead when Palffy scored at 14:26, two seconds after a power play had expired.

Burke stopped winger Steve Heinze’s initial shot and defenseman Aaron Miller’s rebound try, but he was beaten by Palffy from in front of the crease. It was Palffy’s seventh power-play goal.

The Coyotes’ attack was relentless early, forcing Potvin to make six saves in the first three minutes.

The Kings missed a chance to extend the lead early in the second period when Jason Allison’s point-blank shot bounced off the right post.

Phoenix, taking advantage of the Kings’ conservative play, tied the score, 1-1, on Teppo Numminen’s goal at 15:16 of the second period. Langkow, in the right corner, slid the puck across the goal mouth to Numminen, who skated in from the left and lifted the shot over Potvin’s shoulder.

It was a valuable point for Phoenix, which has made a strong run to get back into the playoff picture.

“We’re getting ready for the stretch drive right now, and we know every game is important,” forward Shane Doan said.