Kings vs. Coyotes: Players That Need to Step Up for Coyotes in Game 3

After dropping the first two games of the series at home, the Phoenix Coyotes need players to step up as the series heads to Los Angeles.

In the NHL playoffs, momentum is everything and the Coyotes desperately need to turn the tide in Game 3 if they want to come back in the series. Going down 3-0 to the Los Angeles Kings will effectively end the series as it's nearly impossible to come back from such a hole.

For the Coyotes to win Game 3, they will need some players to step up.

Mike Smith

If the Coyotes want to beat the red-hot Kings, the first thing they need to do is get better play from goalie Mike Smith.

Smith has allowed seven goals in the first two games.

For the Coyotes to win, Smith needs to get back to his playoff average of two goals allowed per game or better.

Smith's regular season was the best of his career and has been solid throughout the playoffs. Two bad games doesn't change that, it's very possible that he's able to rally in Game 3 and keep the Kings' offense to a minimum while keeping his team in the game.

If Smith is going to have a career-defining game in the playoffs, then Game 3 is the time to do it.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson

After giving up eight goals in the last two games, it's clear Phoenix's defense has just been awful thus far in the series. While Smith hasn't been able to keep the puck out of the net, it doesn't help that the defense is allowing the Kings to get off 40 shots on goal.

If the Coyotes expect Smith to give them the kind of game they need from him to compete in this series, it's on the defense as a whole to reduce the amount of saves he needs to make.

The Kings have out-shot the Coyotes 87-52 through two games.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson is one of the team's top defenders and, if the Coyotes are to buckle down on defense, it has to start with him. The team's first-round selection in 2009 needs to step up and be a leader for a defense that's desperate for someone to step up.

Ekman-Larsson was one of the team's leaders in ice time during the regular season and he will need to lead the way if the team is going to play better defense in Game 3.

Antoine Vermette

Not all of Phoenix's issues in this series have been defensive. The Coyotes have struggled to put up points against the Kings and their goalie Jonathan Quick.

Through the first two rounds, Antoine Vermette played like a superstar offensively. He has led the team in points in the postseason with nine points (five goals and four assists).

The Coyotes have been a primarily defensive team throughout this season, but at this point they can't beat the Kings by simply playing better defense.

Phoenix must find a way to score goals.

Vermette will need to continue his play from the earlier rounds in the postseason as the Coyotes look for ways to score goals.