Kings vs. Coyotes Game 5; Pierre McGuire on Tortorella/DeBoer argument (Playoff Puck Previews)

Back by popular demand, here are your Puck Previews: Spotlighting the key games in NHL action, news and views as well as general frivolity. Make sure to stop back here for the nightly Three Stars when the games are finished.

In which timelines collide and coaches from four different teams yell at each other about goonery. whilst Pierre McGuire — whom we suspect may be an exiled Time Lord — watches on. We'd love a velvet painting of this. [via reader Tony Vela]

Game 5 Preview: Los Angeles Kings at Phoenix Coyotes, 9 p.m. EST. (Kings lead, 3-1) The Coyotes face elimination again, as the Kings take their undefeated (7-0) show on the road. The first goal looms mighty big in this game, as Shane Doan told LA Kings Insider: "I think it just calms (teams) down to a certain degree, so they know we're doing things right, things are going your way. I think confidence is everything in the playoffs, just because everyone is so, so close. With everyone being that close, feeling confident is big."

Check out previews and updated scores for all of today's games on the Y! Sports NHL scores and scheds page. For tonight's starting goalies, check out Left Wing Lock.

Evening Reading

• Listen to today's Marek Vs. Wyshynski here. In which we discuss a Pete DeBoer/John Tortorella barn fight.

• So the New York Ranger vs. the New Jersey Devils isn't exactly setting the ratings world on fire: "Game 4 between the Rangers and Devils drew 1.26 million viewers on NBC Sports Network, drawing a series low. There is no comparison going back to last year, as Game 4 between the Bruins and Lightning was on NBC. The 2012 Eastern Conference Final has averaged 1.29 million viewers over three broadcasts on NBC Sports Network. This is down 16% from the first three broadcasts of the 2011 Eastern Conference Final on VERSUS, which averaged 1.5 million through games 1, 2 and 3. At least a 2-2 series will likely guarantee better numbers for Wednesday's Game 5." [Puck The Media]

• Pierre McGuire on not spilling the gossip on what Tortorella and DeBoer said over his head at the benches: "One of the reasons why [Inside The Glass] had such a positive effect is that slowly but surely we've been able to build up a trust factor between the coaches and players and NBC." [Newsday]

• Why RJ Umberger should be super excited about Todd Richards getting hired as head coach. [Dark Blue Jackets]

Puck Daddy Reader Comment of the Day: Mustache of Kes on the Rainn Wilson tickets in the Jell-O mold:

Bold Prediction: Mike Smith takes a minor penalty tonight.