Dave Tippett is still waiting for a satisfactory explanation. Instead, he might wind up with a fine.
Tippett had no argument against Drew Doughty's overtime goal -- the only one for either side in 60-plus minutes of hockey Thursday night -- but was livid that Kings defenseman Jack Johnson wasn't called for interference on goalie Mike Smith. Replays showed Johnson impeding Smith's movement toward the puck, which crawled over the goal line with five people in the crease.
"If they don't give the goal to Johnson, then it's goalie interference," Tippett said. "If he comes in and puts his leg in front of Mike Smith's leg so (Smith) can't make a stop, that is goalie interference. It's as simple as that. It's a poor call. It's a blown call that should be no goal."
The play was reviewed in Toronto, but only to see if the puck crossed the goal line and if the net, which was dislodged during the pileup, was in place long enough.
"The ref who made the call was more watching the net come up off the moorings and not paying attention to what's in the crease," Coyotes captain Shane Doan said. "Honestly, with the way their guy drives to the crease and stops Smitty from going across the net, that's an (interference) no-brainer -- you assume. But, apparently, there's more concern with watching the net than watching our goalie."
The Coyotes were fortunate to get a point to end a 1-2-1 road trip. Smith was the best player on the ice, making several great saves among his 27 in regulation, including big stops on Brad Richardson and Anze Kopitar in the third period. Phoenix didn't challenge Los Angeles goalie Jonathan Quick nearly as much, and he recorded his NHL-leading sixth shutout -- and second over the Coyotes -- this season.
A torturous schedule for Phoenix continues with another one-game homestand this weekend against the Islanders before a three-game Eastern swing next week. The Coyotes have scored two goals or fewer in 10 of the last 14 games and are missing four regulars, and it's a matter of hanging on until things flip back in their favor.
NOTES, QUOTES
-- The Coyotes played an inspired game against the Kings and gave their all on the final stop of yet another tough road trip, but their offense continues to flounder. They were shut out for the fifth time this season -- and the second time by Jonathan Quick -- and have scored two goals or fewer in 10 of their last 14 games. They are 4-8-2 over that span, part of a five-week stint of losing hockey.
Players the Coyotes are counting on for scoring aren't coming through. In addition to the injured Martin Hanzal and Boyd Gordon, the line of Shane Doan, Daymond Langkow and Mikkel Boedker has produced six goals -- two by each player -- in the last 17 games. Cal O'Reilly has two goals in 19 games. Raffi Torres was coming alive before he was suspended for leaving his feet on a hit Saturday. And the Coyotes defensemen aren't scoring goals, something that was a big part of their success the last two seasons.
The Kings are in the same boat -- they have scored two goals or fewer in 18 of the last 20 games -- but they are 5-0-4 in the last nine games because they just aren't allowing goals. The Coyotes were good at that Thursday, but they haven't been good enough lately to reverse this slide.
"Obviously, we need to create some more opportunities and find some ways to get some in," Doan said. "(Goalie Mike) Smith played unbelievable for us, and we've just got to find ways to score."
-- Even with top faceoff men Martin Hanzal and Boyd Gordon still out of the lineup with injuries, the Coyotes won 32 of 52 draws against the Kings. Daymond Langkow (13-7) and Kyle Chipchura (11-7) teamed to go 24-14.
-- The Coyotes are now at the midway point of the season, and the numbers are a bit concerning. With 43 points in 41 games, Phoenix is a full 10 points behind its pace from 2009-10 -- 53 points this year would put the Coyotes up with Vancouver and Boston for the best record in the league -- and four points behind their 2010-11 pace. The Coyotes sit in 11th place, which is three points out of the final playoff spot.
By the end of next week, the Coyotes will have played 26 of their first 45 games on the road, where they are 12-9-1 even with a poor run of late. But the home stretch will be easier schedule-wise, and if the Coyotes can figure a way to protect home ice, they'll have a good shot at a third straight playoff berth.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It seemed like everyone on the ice was in the crease. I wasn't given the opportunity to make the save. I didn't think a (goalie interference) penalty was warranted, but I've seen those goals wiped out and (the face-off) taken outside. It was a tough way to lose a game." -- Coyotes goalie Mike Smith on Drew Doughty's game-winning goal 38 seconds into overtime.
ROSTER REPORT
-- D David Schlemko played a strong game, logging more than 21 minutes of ice time, dishing out three hits and keeping the Kings' dangerous forwards at bay with steady play. Schlemko is now a top-four defenseman on a very deep Phoenix blue line, with Derek Morris now sitting routinely.
-- G Mike Smith is back. In just his second game in the lineup since suffering a groin injury in Florida on Dec. 21, Smith was the best player on the ice with 27 saves, including brilliant stops on Anze Kopitar and Brad Richardson, to help get the Coyotes a point. The Kings finally got one past him in controversial fashion in overtime, but Smith appears to be healthy and back on track. Now all he needs is for his teammates to catch up.
-- D Adrian Aucoin is enduring a rough month, much like his team. Aucoin, who returned to the lineup a little more than a week ago after missing five games with a lower-body injury, left the ice in pain again Thursday. This time, Aucoin took a puck deflected off the stick of Kings center Mike Richards in the right eye in the first period. He didn't return.
Coach Dave Tippett called the injury "a tough situation" and said Aucoin would be re-evaluated when the team returns to Phoenix.
-- LW Raffi Torres sat out Thursday to complete his two-game NHL suspension. He will return to the lineup Saturday against the New York Islanders.
MEDICAL WATCH
-- C Boyd Gordon (lower body) sat out his sixth straight game and remains on the injured list. The Coyotes recalled Andy Miele from Portland of the AHL to take his spot on the roster.
-- C Martin Hanzal (upper body) sat out his sixth straight game with an upper-body injury. Hanzal took a stick to the head from St. Louis' David Backes early in the third period of Saturday's loss to the Blues and was helped from the ice.
