Los Angeles, CA – The St. Louis Blues had an opportunity to really take a stranglehold of their Western Conference quarterfinal series against the Los Angeles Kings.
The only problem was they couldn't beat Jonathan Quick.
The reigning Conn Smythe Trophy-winning goalie made 30 saves to backstop Los Angeles to a 1-0 victory in Game 3 at Staples Center.
Slava Voynov provided the lone tally for the Kings, who returned home after consecutive 2-1 losses in St. Louis and will look to even this best-of-seven set on Monday.
Brian Elliott stopped 20 shots in defeat.
"We got our fair share of chances, we just have to be more determined and find ways to score," said St. Louis forward Alexander Steen.
The Blues dominated stretches of the third period during which they owned a 10-2 shot advantage.
The final frame began with Los Angeles on a power play. Shortly after St. Louis killed off the remaining time on Roman Polak's hooking penalty, Blues forward Patrik Berglund went off for high-sticking at the 54-second mark. He was then joined in the penalty box by T.J. Oshie, who was whistled for delay of game after firing the puck over the glass from the defensive zone.
Los Angeles had a two-man advantage for 38 seconds, but couldn't convert.
Later, David Perron fell on Quick and Kings defenseman Drew Doughty picked up an additional two minutes for the way he policed the situation, roughing up the St. Louis forward.
The Blues had several near-misses on the ensuing power play and during another man advantage when the Kings were caught with too many skaters.
Dwight King, who served the latter penalty, exited the penalty box and Elliott denied him on a breakaway.
The Blues continued to attack shift after shift, but Quick and Los Angeles forward Justin Williams had all the answers. Williams made a critical save as he swept the puck away from St. Louis defenseman Jordan Leopold, who had an open net at which to shoot.
"We did what we had to do to win a game," Quick said. "Everybody worked hard. PK came up and stepped up and played a huge role in that game."
LA outshot St. Louis 8-6 in a scoreless first period and scored the game's only goal at the 4:56 mark of the middle stanza.
Elliott couldn't cover the puck in a maze of bodies and sticks and it wound up squirting free to Voynov, who fired a shot through the traffic and inside the far post.
Game Notes
Quick recorded his fifth career playoff shutout, extending a Kings record ... Including the regular season, the Kings have won eight straight games at home ... The Blues have lost six in a row at Staples Center ... Los Angeles has come back from an 0-2 hole to win a series just once in team history - opening round against Detroit in 2001 ... Elliott has allowed only one goal in nine of his last 10 games dating back to April 16 ... Each of the three previous playoff series between these two teams had resulted in sweeps.
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