King of Kings scores twice as LA beat Phoenix

(Reuters) - The Los Angeles Kings produced more Stanley Cup playoffs magic on Sunday with a 4-2 win over the Phoenix Coyotes in their Western Conference Finals opener.

Dustin Brown and Dwight King scored third-period goals to clinch the Game One victory, with the second game of the best-of-seven series set for Tuesday, again in Phoenix.

The win continued a fairytale post-season run for the West's eighth seeds, who have won nine of 10 playoff games to eliminate top seeds Vancouver in the opening round then swept the second-seeded St. Louis Blues in the second.

"It was really important we had a good start," Kings coach Darryl Sutter told reporters. "It wasn't so much scoring or any of that stuff.

"Just make sure we match their start."

Unbeaten on the road during the playoffs, the Kings spoiled the NHL-owned Coyotes' first appearance in a conference finals.

Phoenix netminder Mike Smith kept the home team in the game in the first period where they were outshot 17-4 by the Kings but went into the intermission tied at 1-1.

However, he could not withstand the relentless Los Angeles barrage and surrendered two more goals. The Kings finished with a total of 47 shots.

"We knew coming in, you watch Phoenix play, they got a really good goaltender," said Brown. "Part of our thing is getting as many shots on him as we can, make him work, make it hard for him."