Los Angeles began the playoffs as the eighth seed in the Western Conference. The Kings will finish the postseason as one of the top two teams in the NHL.
The Kings eliminated Phoenix with a 4-3 overtime victory Tuesday night, earning just the second Stanley Cup finals appearance in franchise history. They became the second No. 8 seed to reach the finals, joining the 2006 Edmonton Oilers.
"It means everything," Kings defenseman Drew Doughty said. "You grow up your whole life wanting to be in that Stanley Cup final."
The Kings won their eighth straight road game in the playoffs, becoming the first team to head to the finals unbeaten away from home. They'll start the Cup on the road at either New York or New Jersey next Wednesday.
The Rangers and Devils are tied, 2-2, in the Eastern Conference finals with Game Five tonight in Madison Square Garden.
The Coyotes were upset with the loss -- particularly captain Shane Doan, who felt a kneeing penalty should have been called on L.A. captain Dustin Brown just prior to Dustin Penner's winning goal -- but they will look back fondly on their best season, which may ultimately include finally finding an owner.
"There will be some frustration for a few days," Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said. "But ultimately I think our players should look back and feel good about a lot of the things that they accomplished this year."
---John Vogl
