Phoenix played Game 3 without forward Martin Hanzal, who served a one-game suspension for boarding Brown in Game 3. Doan, who escaped suspension for his own hit, took up the job of agitating Brown, facewashing the Kings' high-scoring captain with his glove during one scrum.

After Smith came up with several stellar saves during a scoreless first period, Keith Yandle slipped a long pass behind Mike Richards to Langkow, who beat Quick between the legs for his first goal of the postseason 1:03 into the second. Los Angeles hadn't trailed since the first period of Game 1 in its second-round series with St. Louis 19 days ago.

Staples Center briefly fell silent, but reached full roar moments later when Brown found Kopitar with a long pass behind the Phoenix defense. The Slovenian star beat Smith with a backhand for his fifth goal of the playoffs.

The teams were even in goals and shots heading to the third period, but King quickly put Los Angeles ahead with the latest impressive play of his incredible first NHL playoff run. Moments after Smith made a spectacular point-blank save on Stoll, King collected the puck during a delayed penalty and wired a high shot past Smith's glove into the top corner of the net.

"What a shot, and an even better look on his face when he saw where it went," Stoll said.

Tippett didn't love the call that created the delayed penalty.

"If I told you what I really thought (about the officiating), I think it would cost me a lot of money," he said.

Phoenix responded to its deficit with more physical play in Game 3, although keeping most of it within legal limits after the borderline goonery of the Game 2 blowout. The Coyotes inserted enforcer Paul Bissonnette into their lineup for the first time since Game 4 of the opening round.

NOTES: The game was the first of six playoff contests in four days at Staples Center, where the NBA's Lakers and Clippers will host back-to-back second-round playoff games this weekend. The Tour of California - the nation's largest cycling race - also finishes outside the arena about 30 minutes before the puck drops on Game 4 Sunday. ...Marc-Antoine Pouliot took Hanzal's spot in the Coyotes' lineup, and Bissonnette replaced Gilbert Brule. D Adrian Aucoin has missed the entire series with an injury. ... The Kings have won seven straight road games, and they stuck with coach Darryl Sutter's scheme to keep the road vibe at home by staying in a hotel across the street from Staples Center on Wednesday night. ... USC QB Matt Barkley attended the game.

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