THE LOS ANGELES Kings have won just their second NHL Western Conference title after a 4-3 overtime victory over the Phoenix Coyotes.
With less than three minutes left in overtime on Tuesday, a save from Phoenix goalkeeper Mike Smith sent the puck bouncing towards the Kings’ Dustin Penner.
The left-winger took control of the loose puck and slotted it into the net for the winning goal.
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Penner’s goal earned Los Angeles their first Western Conference championship trophy since 1993 and only the second in the Kings’ 45-year history.
Los Angeles will now face either the New Jersey Devils or the New York Rangers in the Stanley Cup Finals.
The Kings, who were the bottom-ranked side in the Eastern Conference playoffs, had to come from behind twice to claim their fourth win of the conference final series against the Coyotes, who were ranked third.
Playing at home, Phoenix hit the front after just four minutes in the opening period when Taylor Pyatt sent his powerful slap-shot into the net but scores were level at the first break thanks to a goal from Anze Kopitar.
The second period was full of action with Marc-Antoine Pouliot giving the Coyotes the lead again before Drew Doughty and Mike Richards both scored to put the Kings 3-2 up.
With under five minutes remaining in the second period, Phoenix’s Keith Yandle tied the game and after a scoreless third period overtime was needed.
The Kings dominated the extra period, firing 12 shots to the Coyotes’ six, and that supremacy paid off with Penner’s deciding goal.
Kings of the west: LA reach second ever Stanley Cup final
THE LOS ANGELES Kings have won just their second NHL Western Conference title after a 4-3 overtime victory over the Phoenix Coyotes.
With less than three minutes left in overtime on Tuesday, a save from Phoenix goalkeeper Mike Smith sent the puck bouncing towards the Kings’ Dustin Penner.
The left-winger took control of the loose puck and slotted it into the net for the winning goal.
Penner’s goal earned Los Angeles their first Western Conference championship trophy since 1993 and only the second in the Kings’ 45-year history.
Los Angeles will now face either the New Jersey Devils or the New York Rangers in the Stanley Cup Finals.
The Kings, who were the bottom-ranked side in the Eastern Conference playoffs, had to come from behind twice to claim their fourth win of the conference final series against the Coyotes, who were ranked third.
The second period was full of action with Marc-Antoine Pouliot giving the Coyotes the lead again before Drew Doughty and Mike Richards both scored to put the Kings 3-2 up.
With under five minutes remaining in the second period, Phoenix’s Keith Yandle tied the game and after a scoreless third period overtime was needed.
The Kings dominated the extra period, firing 12 shots to the Coyotes’ six, and that supremacy paid off with Penner’s deciding goal.
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