National Hockey League: News

Jonathan Quick might like to give back the goal he allowed from center ice, but the Los Angeles Kings will keep the win. Dustin Brown scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and Quick had 25 saves Sunday night, leading the Kings to a 4-2 win over the Phoenix Coyotes in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. Quick, the Vezina Trophy finalist, let Derek Morris' center-ice slap shot from the right boards flutter in to tie the game in the first period. The Coyotes came back from a one-goal deficit twice, but Brown scored 2:11 into the third and Dwight King got his second goal of the game into an empty net to seal the win. Anze Kopitar also scored for the eighth-seeded Kings, who made the conference finals for the first time since Wayne Gretzky led them to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1993. Indeed, it's a series no one could have predicted between two heated division rivals who caught lightning in a bottle behind good goaltending. The third-seeded Coyotes, riding Mike Smith as much as the Kings have relied on Quick, are in the conference finals for the first time ever. Smith faced 47 shots, letting in three, and Mikkel Boedker also scored in the loss. Game 2 is Tuesday in Glendale.

Jimmy Howard made 18 saves and the United States took down Finland, 5-0, on Sunday to clinch a spot in the quarterfinals at the 2012 World Championship.

Jimmy Howard made 18 saves and the United States took down Finland, 5-0, on Sunday at the 2012 World Championship.

The New York Rangers are off to the conference finals for the first time in 15 years after escaping another Game 7. Henrik Lundqvist made 22 saves and the Rangers beat the Washington Capitals 2-1 on Saturday night in the sixth straight game in the series decided by one goal. The Rangers will host New Jersey in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference on Monday at home. Brad Richards scored New York's first goal just 92 seconds in and Michael Del Zotto made it 2-0 midway through the third period, but Roman Hamrlik replied for Washington just 38 seconds after that to cut the deficit in half. Lundqvist had 11 of his 22 saves in the second period. He stopped 26 shots in a 2-1 victory over Ottawa in Game 7 of the first round to keep the top-seeded Rangers from being chased out early. They improved to 5-0 in Game 7s at Madison Square Garden and won their seventh straight playoff series with home-ice advantage. The Caps, meanwhile, failed to make the conference finals for the first time since 1998, a year after the Rangers last did. They also played their second Game 7 of these playoffs after topping No. 2 seed Boston in the first round. Rookie goaltender Braden Holtby made 29 saves in the loss but couldn't get off the ice for an extra attacker until there was about a minute left in the third period because of New York pressure.

Dion Phaneuf scored two goals, Devan Dubnyk made 24 saves and Canada posted a resounding 8-0 win Saturday over Kazakhstan to clinch a spot in the quarterfinals at the 2012 World Championship.

Justin Faulk scored his second goal of the game with 22 seconds remaining in overtime to lift the United States to a 3-2 win over Kazakhstan at the 2012 World Championship.

Justin Faulk scored his second goal of the game with 22 seconds remaining in overtime to lift the United States to a 3-2 win over Kazakhstan at the 2012 World Championship.

New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist is regarded as one of the game's best between the pipes. No further evidence is needed outside of his dual Vezina and Hart Trophy nominations for his play this season.

Justin Faulk scored his second goal of the game with 22 seconds remaining in overtime to lift the United States to a 3-2 win over Kazakhstan at the 2012 World Championship.

Former Dallas head coach and general manager Bob Gainey returned to the Stars' fold on Thursday, named the club's senior advisor to the hockey department.