Kings win third in a row, force Game 7 vs. Sharks

LOS ANGELES - Only three teams in NHL history have come back from a 3-0 playoff series deficit to advance.

And the San Jose Sharks don't like how the Los Angeles Kings got in position on Monday to try to be No. 4.

At issue was a go-ahead goal by Los Angeles' Justin Williams in the third period, when he poked at a puck that the Sharks thought had been frozen.

"We got cheated, simple as that," Sharks coach Todd McLellan said. "I was told (by the ref) you could see the puck lying behind (goalie Alex Stalock's) feet the whole time and that's why the whistle didn't go. That was obviously the turning point of the game."

After the goal stood up on review, Kings center Anze Kopitar scored twice for a 4-1 win that forced a series-deciding Game 7.

"It was an innocent shot from the side that ended up getting tipped in front, went between my legs and was just lying between my skates," Stalock said. "They pushed it in the net and it was a good goal. They made a good play, I guess, going hard to the net, and those are the goals that will eventually win you the series."

Stalock was making his first playoff start ahead of No. 1 goalie Antti Niemi, who was pulled in his last two games. Stalock finished with 26 saves.

"(Stalock) has a shot to play Game 7," McLellan said. "I thought he played great.

"I'm not surprised at all (by tonight). The Kings got rid of their sloppy play and they got back to playing their type of game. It's a tough game to beat. We will have to do a better job in Game 7."

Kopitar set a playoff career high with three points on the night and has earned a point in each game of the series so far.

"You try and go out there and perform the best you can," he said. "If that's scoring a goal, winning a face-off or blocking a shot, whatever the case may be. When the game is on the line, everyone in here is willing to do that. That's what gave us a chance to go back to San Jose."

Williams also scored a first-period goal and has four goals during the Kings' three-game winning streak.

"We have a very proud hockey team in here," he said. "We've been through a lot together and we want to be a team that came back all the way. (The Sharks) are a proud team as well. We are facing a very good team."

The Sharks will be waiting impatiently for the Kings in San Jose.

"Somebody is going to win Game 7, and somebody is going to lose," said Kings coach Darryl Sutter. "It doesn't make a difference (what's already happened). There's really no difference if you're down three or up three, it's still about closing it out."

The Sharks were in a similar situation in 2011 after blowing a 3-0 series lead against the Detroit Red Wings but were able to win Game 7 at home that year.

"I want to see a winning performance," McLellan said of the series finale. "Tonight was a hard-fought game; it was rugged by both teams. Our big guys are going to have to find a way to get on the board at some point. We've done it before, we'll do it again."