The Los Angeles Kings dominated Phoenix Coyotes 4-0 Tuesday to continue their playoff transformation and storm to a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference finals. Los Angeles dominated the opener and was even better in Game 2, withstanding Phoenix's initial push. Los Angeles has now won seven consecutive post-season games and is two wins short of reaching its first Stanley Cup finals since 1993. The Kings have never won a Cup title. “We really want it right now,” Los Angeles forward Dustin Penner told reporters. “It's fear that stops you from letting games get away. We use that fear to motivate us.” The final appeared a distant dream for the Kings who now have earned the unfamiliar tag of the favorites after blowing away West top seeds Vancouver and St. Louis in the opening playoff rounds. Continuing the good work, Jeff Carter came alive with a hat trick and Jonathan Quick delivered a 24-save shutout to bring Los Angeles closer to the ultimate series. Dwight King notched a first-period score for the visitors, his third of the series, and Carter then took over with a pair of goals in the second and one final one in the third. Carter became the first Kings player to get a playoff hat trick since Wayne Gretzky in 1993. Goaltender Mike Smith made 36 saves to display the form that has carried the Coyotes to this point but Phoenix was overmatched at home for the second straight game. “We got outcompeted again, out-battled,” Smith said. “In the first period we played a little better and competed a little harder, but it's not enough.” Los Angeles host the third game Thursday. Hunter quits For quite some time, Washington Capitals general manager George McPhee tried to persuade former player Dale Hunter to return to the team as its coach. This season, McPhee finally got his man — just not for very long. Hunter quit as Washington's coach Monday after less than six months on the job, saying he wants to return to his family, his farm and the junior club he owns in Canada. “It was the right thing to do,” Hunter said. “I'm going home,” Hunter said at the Capitals' practice facility, a couple of hours after delivering the news to McPhee. “I've got a good thing going there with the family, so I'll stay home.” Hunter said he doesn't plan on returning to the NHL.
