The Kings snuff out the Coyotes

A three-goal burst leaves the Coyotes cold

A lead that went dark

Qualification night lights all 32 candles, and by its end only 16 still burned. The Arizona Coyotes, 27th of 32 last season, visited the Los Angeles Kings, 10th, at Crypto.com Arena. One game. Lose it and your flame goes cold on the very first night.

Jack McBain struck first, a wrist shot at 2:59 of the 1st off Travis Boyd and Matias Maccelli. Then the Kings caught fire. Anze Kopitar tied it on the power play at 8:13, with Nick Bjugstad in the box for hooking. Trevor Lewis wristed one home 2:22 later. Trevor Moore snapped in a third 1:59 after that. Connor Ingram faced nine shots in the Arizona net, and Karel Vejmelka faced the other 18.

Lizotte slams the door

Bjugstad answered at 6:17 of the 2nd to make it 3-2. It lasted 1:22. Blake Lizotte, fed by Drew Doughty, wristed in the goal that stood as the winner. Clayton Keller ripped a power-play slapper at 17:28, with Doughty off for tripping, and Arizona trailed by one again.

That was as close as it got. Pheonix Copley stopped 24 of 27. Kevin Fiala's backhand at 5:35 of the 3rd made it 5-3, and Adrian Kempe finished it into an empty net at 19:23. Liam O'Brien drew a 10-minute misconduct at 19:33. The Coyotes were doused. The Kings burn on.