Advertisement
Getty Images
Ice Ice Baby

NHL: LA Kings one win from Stanley Cup final

Los Angeles are agonisingly close to their first western conference win since Wayne Gretzky was a lad.

THE LOS ANGELES Kings are one win away from their first Stanley Cup final since 1993 after edging out the Phoenix Coyotes 2-1 on Thursday.

The eighth-seeded Kings came from a goal down at home to grab a commanding 3-0 series lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference final.

Daymond Langkow put the third-seeded Coyotes in front early in the second period before Anze Kopitar levelled the score less than three minutes later.

Dwight King sent the Los Angeles faithful into a frenzy with a goal 1:47 into the final period that proved to be the winner at Staples Center.

King fired a shot over the glove of Phoenix goaltender Mike Smith for his fourth goal in his last three games and fifth of the play-offs.

The win gave the Kings their third consecutive 3-0 series lead and put them within touching distance of a Stanley Cup final berth against either the New Jersey Devils or the New York Rangers.

YouTube credit: TubeFace95

Los Angeles, led then by Canadian great Wayne Gretzky, last won the Western Conference title 19 years ago, falling to the Montreal Canadiens in five games in the Stanley Cup final.

The Kings, who have won their last eight and dropped just one play-off game this year, can complete their sweep with a victory in game four of the series in Los Angeles on Sunday.

VIDEO: why you shouldn’t watch sports with your kid

Suspended linebacker files defamation lawsuit against NFL boss