Kings Thump Blues: Take Commanding 3-0 Series Lead
2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs

Los Angeles, CA

Drew Doughty had a goal and two assists, helping push the Los Angeles Kings to the brink of the Western Conference finals with a 4-2 rout of the St. Louis Blues Thursday night at Staples Center.

It gave a 3-0 series lead for the eighth-seeded Kings, who improved to 7-1 in the playoffs and have won four straight games.

The Kings, who have gone up 3-0 for the second straight series, received its first power goal in six games courtesy of Mike Richards, giving Los Angeles a 3-1 lead at 10:29 in the middle frame.

That goal snapped an 0-for-30 drought for the Kings' power play goal.

Richards then assisted on Doughty's goal in the third period, making it 4-2. The Kings center Richards, who fought Jamie Langenbrunner in the opening frame, had a Gordie Howe hat trick for Game 3, which had some of the physically of Game 2.

The surprising Kings, who stunned the top-seeded Vancouver Canucks in five games in the opening round and then outscored the Blues by an 8-3 margin in the first two games of this semifinal series, had seven players tallying points.

Justin Williams and Dwight King also scored goals, while Anze Kopitar had two assists for the Kings, who got an 18-save effort from Jonathan Quick. Vezina Trophy candidate Quick, who stopped four shots in the first period to keep St. Louis off the board, improved to 7-1 in the playoffs.

Chris Stewart scored both goals, while Brian Elliot struggled in between the pipes as he gave up all four goals on 22 shots for the Blues, who face a daunting task if they want to the advance to conference finals for the first time since 2001.

The second-seeded Blues, who were this season's Central Division champions, will attempt to become just the fourth team to rally from a 3-0 series deficit in NHL playoff history.

The Kings, who have not trailed against the Blues since the first 10 minutes of Game 1, hope to wrap up this series Sunday when they host Game 4 in Los Angeles.

Kings Thump Blues: Take Commanding 3-0 Series Lead

2012 Western Conference Semifinals

#2 St. Louis vs. #8 Los Angeles

Date	Time (ET)	Matchup
* If Necessary
Saturday, April 28, 2012	7:30 p.m.	3 Los Angeles Kings - St. Louis Blues 1
Monday, April 30, 2012	9:00 p.m.	5 Los Angeles Kings - St. Louis Blues 2
Thursday, May 3, 2012	10:00 p.m.	4 Los Angeles Kings - St. Louis Blues 2
Sunday, May 6, 2012	3:00 p.m.	St. Louis at Los Angeles
*Tuesday, May 8, 2012	TBD	Los Angeles at St. Louis
*Thursday, May 10, 2012	TBD	St. Louis at Los Angeles
*Saturday, May 12, 2012	TBD	Los Angeles at St. Louis