Former King Roenick adds to their troubles

Jeremy Roenick is playing as if these are his last games -- just in case.

Roenick had a goal and an assist to help the Phoenix Coyotes beat the Kings, 3-2, Thursday night. He has two goals and two assists in his last three games.

“It’s been a good couple weeks for me,” said the 37-year-old Roenick, who indicated last month that he was considering retiring after this season. “I don’t know if these are the last couple, but I’d like to think I’m trying to play like they are.”

Curtis Joseph made 19 saves for his first victory since March 22, and the Coyotes ended a five-game losing streak. The 445th win of Joseph’s career moved him to within two victories of Terry Sawchuk, who is fourth on the all-time list.

Tom Kostopoulos and Michael Cammalleri scored for the Kings, who have dropped six in a row and end their season Saturday afternoon at Staples Center against the Coyotes.

Bill Thomas and Shane Doan also scored for Phoenix, which is out of playoff contention.

Roenick gave Phoenix a 1-0 lead at 9:17 of the first when he redirected Derek Morris’ blast from the top of the left faceoff circle past Sean Burke for a power-play goal. Thomas made it 2-0 at 17:48 when he pounced on a loose puck and one-timed a shot over Burke’s glove.

“The first period was the difference,” Kings Coach Marc Crawford said. “We didn’t respond to the level the game was being played at. We wanted a soft game, and they didn’t give us one.”

The Coyotes finished the first period with a season-high 20 shots on goal.

“We thought it would be crucial to come out and have a good start, but they did it to us,” Cammalleri said. “We’ve had lots of chances to win games this year, but it’s time to start winning some of these.”

Kostopoulos cut the lead to 2-1 at 17:23 of the second period, scoring from the right side of the crease after the puck took a long bounce off the end boards. But Doan extended the lead to 3-1 only 75 seconds later when he took a pass from Roenick and beat Burke with a wrist shot.