Kings fall to Coyotes in first NHL preseason game ever played in Australia
The NHL’s first preseason game in the Southern Hemisphere went ahead Saturday after officials apparently solved some issues with the quality of the ice at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena.
Ahead of Saturday’s Global Series game between the Kings and Arizona Coyotes won by the Coyotes 5-3, there were reports and photos on social media of the state of the ice surface — puddles, ruts and uneven coloring of the painted lines.
After a scoreless first period, the teams scored seven goals in the second before Arizona clinched the game with an empty-net goal in the final minute.
The NHL is sending the Kings and Arizona Coyotes to Melbourne for a pair of exhibition games next week.
A second game between the teams was scheduled for Sunday in the same arena.
On Friday, both teams were scheduled to hold an open practice for fans wanting to see NHL “ice” hockey in Australia for the first time. Although the Kings held their practice, the Coyotes were reported to have had to cancel their session.
It’s early spring in Australia and the game-time temperature in Melbourne on Saturday was 61 degrees Fahrenheit.
Many of the players on both teams attended an Australian rules football playoff game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday night with nearly 98,000 fans in attendance.
Rod Laver Arena seats about 15,000 spectators and sellout crowds were expected for the two games. The venue is more well-known as the home of the Australian Open tennis tournament in January, the first Grand Slam event each year.
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