SoCal NHL Preview

Phoenix (37-34-6) at Los Angeles (30-40-7), 7:30 pm, FSN

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) - With just five games remaining, the Phoenix Coyotes have to be perfect to make the playoffs. The Coyotes go for their second consecutive win and try to keep their slim postseason hopes alive on Thursday when they visit the Los Angeles Kings.

Phoenix (37-34-6) is tied with the Chicago Blackhawks (36-33-8) for 11th place in the Western Conference and trails the Vancouver Canucks (38-29-10) by six points for the eighth and final playoff spot. The Coyotes earned two crucial points on Tuesday, escaping with a 5-4 overtime victory over the San Jose Sharks. Martin Hanzal scored the game-winning goal in the extra session after the team's combined to score five goals within two minutes, 38 seconds early in the third period. The 21-year-old Hanzal, who is sixth on the team with 34 points, has just seven goals this season and notched his first tally since January 30 on Tuesday, helping the Coyotes snap a 0-4-1 stretch over their previous five games.

The Kings, who own the worst record in the league, had a rare two-game win streak snapped on Wednesday, suffering a 2-1 shootout loss to the Anaheim Ducks. Rookie goaltender Erik Ersberg made 39 saves for Los Angeles, which failed to complete just its third three-game win streak of the season.