In front of sparse crowd, Coyotes take ice for preseason opener, 4-2 win over Kings

In front of few, Coyotes take ice

GLENDALE, Ariz. — With only a couple thousand on hand, if that, the Phoenix Coyotes began an uncertain preseason with a 4-2 split-squad win over the Los Angeles Kings.

Minority owner and coach Wayne Gretzky was nowhere to be seen as the franchise awaits resolution of its case in U.S. Bankruptcy Court and a final decision on its ownership. Associate coach Ulf Samuelsson ran the bench.

Jim Vandemeer scored a power-play goal in his Phoenix debut and Vernon Fiddler, Jeff Hoggan and David Spina, who went to high school in the area, also scored for the Coyotes. Phoenix started mostly regulars against a roster made up mostly of Kings’ reserves as the teams simultaneously played games in Glendale and Los Angeles.

Wayne Simmonds scored both Kings goals.