KINGS CAN'T COOL COYOTES PHOENIX 3, KINGS 1.

Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer

PHOENIX - The Phoenix Coyotes were supposed to be more fatigued, more distracted, more vulnerable than the Kings.

Saturday night, they were just more.

Coming off an impressive victory the night before in Dallas, the Coyotes maintained their hottest start in franchise history with a 3-1 victory over the Kings before 14,116 at America West Arena.

The Kings actually arrived in town 12 hours ahead of the Coyotes and were fresh from Wednesday's impressive 6-2 rout of the Mighty Ducks.

Phoenix had plenty of time to catch up on the messy ownership squabbles that involves Wayne Gretzky, who is trying to buy the team but is having trouble finding investors.

Once the game began, though, the Coyotes clearly were the fresher team.

Kings coach Andy Murray sensed that through much of the second period, when his team, which came in with a league-leading 44 goals, took just four shots against Coyotes goaltender Robert Esche.

It didn't get any better when Jeremy Roenick scored the eventual game- winner just 1:46 into the third period.

Coyotes captain Keith Tkachuk, who is coming off a disappointing season, started the play by winning the faceoff and helped end it by passing into the slot where Roenick was waiting.

Murray then called a time out, but it did not help.

Less than five minutes later, Roenick had another great scoringopportunity, but hit the right post. Travis Green kept the pressure on with a wrap around shot that nearly squirted past Jamie Storr.

In all, the game was befitting a team that leads the Pacific Division with an 8-1-2 record and is 6-0-2 in its last eight games.

For the Kings, who rallied from an 0-2-1 road trip to beat the Mighty Ducks twice at home this week, the loss keep them in last place in the Pacific.

The only bright spot for the Kings was the first NHL goal by defenseman Lubomir Vishnovsky, who gave them the early lead.

His goal came at 7:08 of the opening period. Ziggy Palffy, who came in as the league's leading scorer, rang one off the right post and Vishnovsky popped in the rebound.(e Vishnovsky, 24, had 21 goals and 45 points last season for Bratislava in his native Slovakia.

It didn't seem like that would be it. In addition Palffy, Luc Robitaille was second in the NHL in scoring. Palffy did not get off another shot after Vishnovsky's goal. Robitaille was shut down completely.

By the end of the period, the score was tied 1-1 when Green blasted a 25-footer from the left face-off circle past Storr's glove hand.

It could be called a bad goal, but overall, Storr did not play poorly.

Late in the third period, he stopped several Phoenix scoring chances in front, but Wade Smith made it 3-1 with 3:20 left after rebounding a shot in front by Shane Doan.(e Storr's record against Phoenix dropped to 4-11-0. The last time he faced the Coyotes, Oct. 15 at Staples Center, Storr was pulled in the second period after allowing four goals.

It was a strange way to open a strange stretch in the Kings schedule. They flew home after Saturday's game to participate in an NHL Skills Competition this afternoon at Staples Center.

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Photo: Kings forward Ian Laperriere (22) drives Phoenix defenseman Ossi Vaananen into the boards Saturday night.

Mike Fiala/Associated Press