On the brink: LA Kings beat Blackhawks 5-2 with early goal barrage, take 3-1 West finals lead

Los Angeles Kings right wing Marian Gaborik, bottom, scores past Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford left, and defenseman Brent Seabrook, top, during the first period of Game 4 of the Western Conference finals of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs in Los Angeles, Monday, May 26, 2014. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) (The Associated Press)

Chicago Blackhawks left wing Brandon Saad, left, and Los Angeles Kings defenseman Slava Voynov go after the puck during the first period of Game 4 of the Western Conference finals of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs in Los Angeles, Monday, May 26, 2014. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) (The Associated Press)

LOS ANGELES – Jake Muzzin, Marian Gaborik and captain Dustin Brown scored in a dominant first period, and the Los Angeles Kings beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-2 Monday night to take a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference final.

Muzzin and Drew Doughty each had a goal and an assist, and Jonathan Quick made 22 saves as the Kings moved to the brink of their second trip to the Stanley Cup Final in three seasons with their third straight win over the defending champion Blackhawks.

Brandon Saad and Bryan Bickell scored and Corey Crawford stopped 16 shots for the Blackhawks, who didn't get rolling until they trailed 4-0 late in the second period.

One year after Los Angeles lost the conference finals in five games to Chicago, the Kings have their own chance to close it out in five.

Game 5 is Wednesday in Chicago.