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LOS ANGELES, May 17 (UPI) -- Jonathan Quick allowed only a second-period goal Thursday and Los Angeles moved within one win of the Stanley Cup Finals with a 2-1 victory over Phoenix. The Kings, who barely made the playoffs as the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference, can give themselves a shot at the first NHL title in franchise history if they can finish off a sweep of the Coyotes in Los Angeles Sunday.
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Los Angeles has won eight straight post-season games and improved its record to 11-1 during the current playoffs.
The Kings eliminated the top-seeded Vancouver Canucks in five games and then knocked off second-seeded St. Louis in four. Phoenix came into the playoffs as the conference's No. 3 seed.
Having lost the first two games of the conference finals at home, Phoenix gave itself some hope when Daymond Langkow broke a scoreless tie by scoring 1:03 into the second period. It was his first goal of the playoffs.
Los Angeles tied it 2 minutes later, however, on a backhander from Anze Kopitar and Dwight King gave the Kings the lead 1:47 into the third.
The frustrated Coyotes were called for three roughing penalties and another for slashing. Quick finished with 18 saves while Mike Smith gave up the two Los Angeles goals on 28 shots.
A win Sunday would earn the Kings some time off while they await the winner of the New York Rangers-New Jersey series. The Rangers and Devils are tied at 1-1, with Game 3 set for Saturday.
