Beat LA! Coyotes Have A Chance To Avenge Sun Devils

There's that scene in nearly every great Western. You know it. Two hardened men stare each other down from opposite ends of a dusty locale, the tension building with each passing second that draws them closer to their demise. Each moment seems like an eternity, until, in flash, BANG!

The duel between the cities of Los Angeles and Phoenix has had enough tense and hate-fueled duels to fill 100 Sergio Leone films. While the rivalry isn't up to the level of New York versus Boston, it's still among the most heated in the nation.

Sitting at the root of the rivalry is the "little brother" mentality Arizona has towards LA. The glamour, the history, the wealth, the star power and nation's attention have long been focused on Los Angeles, while those in the Grand Canyon State deal with the scraps.

The Dodgers, Lakers, Bruins and Trojans have scores of titles, Hall of Famers and victories over the best that Arizona can throw out at them. Despite the general one-sided nature, each contest between the two regions is a fiercely contested battle.

The latest showdown takes this rivalry to the ice, as the Phoenix Coyotes will drop the puck tonight against the Los Angeles Kings, with a berth in the Stanley Cup Finals on the line. This marks the first time they have faced off in the playoffs, and the stakes can not be higher.

As if this series needed any additional weight, this is a chance for Arizona to exact vengeance for LA's devastating win in the last major battle between these cities, a loss that cut deep to the heart of Sun Devil Nation.

November 5, 2011. The Arizona State Sun Devils came to Pasadena atop the South Division at 6-2, ranked No. 19 in the nation and just a win over the middling UCLA Bruins from essentially locking up the division and a berth in the Pac-12 Championship game. The game seemed like a mere formality to the crowning of the Devils as the inaugural South champs.