LOS ANGELES: The Los Angeles Kings moved to within one victory of reaching the Stanley Cup final by routing defending champion Chicago 5-2 Monday in their National Hockey League semifinal playoff series.
The Kings seized a 3-1 edge in the best-of-seven Western Conference final and can advance to the trophy series with a victory in game five at Chicago on Wednesday.
Either the Kings or Blackhawks will face Montreal or the New York Rangers in the Stanley Cup final.
Jake Muzzin scored a power-play goal nine minutes into the first period to put the Kings ahead for good.
Marian Gaborik netted his 10th goal of the playoffs just 2:13 later to give Los Angeles a 2-0 lead.
And with 4:04 remaining in the period, unmarked Dustin Brown took a pass from Muzzin and tucked the puck into the net to give the Kings a 3-0 lead.
It was the fifth power-play goal in seven chances with the extra man and the third goal in four shots for the Kings.
Drew Doughty gave the Kings a four-goal lead 12:43 into the second period before the Blackhawks finally found the net. Brandon Saad scored with 5:57 remaining in the period to pull Chicago within 4-1 entering the third period.
“We’re just doing a better job defensively,” Doughty said. “Our D-men are a lot more mobile than in the past and we’re helping the forward get some chances.
“Tonight we just buried them.”
Bryan Bickell added another goal for the Blackhawks with 10:31 remaining but they could not break the Kings’ defense again.
Tanner Pearson of the Kings added an empty net goal with 62 seconds remaining after Chicago pulled Crawford for an extra attacker in the closing minutes.
Kings rip Chicago, near Stanley Cup final
