Coyotes Vs. Kings, 2012 NHL Playoffs Game 2: Jeff Carter Nets Hat Trick For L.A. In 4-0 Victory

The Los Angeles Kings defeated the Phoenix Coyotes, 4-0, on Tuesday night in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. Jeff Carter led the offensive effort with a hat trick. Jonathan Quick was a brick wall in net, stopping all 24 shots he faced. The Kings now lead the series, 2-0.

Dwight King opened the scoring for the Kings with a first-period goal at 13:15, but it was Carter's show from there on out. In the second period, Carter extended the lead after just a few minutes. His second goal came in the final two minutes of the period, but it required a scoring change. Originally, Anze Kopitar received credit for the goal, but upon further review the puck deflected off Carter's shin pad.

That second goal came on the power play, but it wasn't his last one with a man-advantage. Carter came up with his third of the game on a rebound shot at 12:56. The team went 2-of-8 on the power play. In total, the Kings put 40 shots on Phoenix goalie Mike Smith.

There were a couple of ejections in this game. Shane Doan received a five-minute boarding call and was ejected for his hit on Trevor Lewis. That marked the start of some ugly play between the teams. Mike Smith walloped Dustin Brown and received a slashing penalty for it, but Brown went to the box for exaggerating the hit. Late in the third period, there were several roughing calls that resulted in game misconducts for the Kings' Dustin Penner and the Coyotes' Antoine Vermette. Phoenix's Martin Hanzal left the game for boarding Dustin Brown just a few minutes before that.