ANAHEIM, Calif. Jim Otto Jersey . -- Sitting in another jubilant dressing room deep inside another dazed road arena, Anze Kopitar simply stopped trying to explain the Los Angeles Kings big-game brilliance. In nearly every tight playoff spot over the last three years, his Kings have emerged and advanced -- even when they end the career of hockey icon Teemu Selanne along the way. Kopitar knows the Kings tenacity cant be easily defined, and its almost impossible to capture. But it has taken them all the way back to the Western Conference finals after they finished off the rival Anaheim Ducks in grand style, 6-2 in Game 7 on Friday night. "Its hard to say what it is, but its all in this room," said Kopitar, the Kings leading scorer. "We dont look outside too much. We believe in this room. We knew this would have to be our best game of the series, and it was." Justin Williams, Jeff Carter and Mike Richards scored in an overwhelming first period. The Kings advanced to their third straight conference finals by improving to a jaw-dropping 6-0 when facing elimination this spring. Los Angeles has won two seven-game series as it heads to Chicago for Game 1 on Sunday. Kopitar, Marian Gaborik and Tanner Pearson also scored, and Jonathan Quick made 25 saves to help the Kings claim the first post-season Freeway Faceoff series with back-to-back wins over their top-seeded Southern California rivals. "Were built for the playoffs, for sure," Kings defenceman Drew Doughty said. "We struggled during the regular season. I dont know the reason why, but were always ready for when it really counts." The Kings added to their 7-1 record in elimination games over the past two years, showing the remarkable poise that has led to eight playoff series victories in three seasons. They earned a rematch with the Blackhawks, who eliminated them in five games last spring. The 2012 Stanley Cup champions led 5-0 late in the second period in Anaheim, never allowing the Ducks to get going in their own building. Los Angeles shredded rookie goalie John Gibson for four goals in the first 22:02, and the Ducks lost a Game 7 for the second straight year. "Really tough emotions right now," said captain Ryan Getzlaf, who scored one goal in the series. "They came out and played the way they can play. They know what theyre doing in these situations." The defeat likely ended the career of the 43-year-old Selanne, who intends to retire. Both teams paid tribute to the Finnish Flash after he took the final shift, eventually waving a melancholy goodbye to his Anaheim fans. "Its got to be a lot of happiness later, but it is hard right now," Selanne said. "It was going to be ending in a great celebration or a big disappointment, and we didnt get the win." Kings fans chants of "This is our house!" echoed through Honda Center, where the Ducks were one of the NHLs best home teams during the best regular season in franchise history. The Kings got stellar performances from their best big-game players. Quick improved to 3-0 in Game 7s. Williams kicked off the first-period onslaught with his sixth goal in six career trips to Game 7. Williams also has six assists in those deciding games. "Im proud of my numbers in Game 7, but the one Im most proud of is 6-0," Williams said. Gaborik scored six goals in the series four games in Anaheim, giving him an NHL-best nine goals in his first post-season with the Kings. Gaborik, Williams and Richards are unbeaten in six career trips to Game 7; Carter improved to 4-0. The 20-year-old Gibson was overmatched, yielding four goals on 18 shots before getting pulled for Jonas Hiller, the dependable veteran benched twice by coach Bruce Boudreau in the seasons final weeks. Boudreau dropped to 1-5 in his six career trips to Game 7s with Washington and Anaheim, losing all five times at home. "The first period was like men against boys, quite frankly," Boudreau said. "They were bigger, stronger, more determined. Everything we said we didnt want to do, we did." Corey Perry scored early in the third period, but also missed a penalty shot and got denied on a second-period breakaway on his 29th birthday. Kyle Palmieri scored late in the second period. The game was an unsightly farewell to Selanne, whose 21-season NHL career began in Winnipeg in 1992 and included parts of 15 seasons in Anaheim. He scored 684 regular-season goals, but had just two goals in 12 playoff games this spring. "It will be great memories I will live with for the rest of my life," Selanne said. "I would never have expected to have this kind of career. I am very thankful for that." Game 7 also might have been a finale for Saku Koivu. The 39-year-old Finnish centre said hell wait several weeks before deciding whether hell retire after 18 NHL seasons. NOTES: The Kings again played without injured veteran defencemen Willie Mitchell, who missed his eighth straight game, and Robyn Regehr (sixth straight). ... Los Angeles is the 17th team in NHL history to win a Game 7 twice in the same post-season run. The New York Rangers also have done it this spring. ... The visiting team has won five of the six Game 7s in the current playoffs. Authentic Menelik Watson Jersey . - Hall of Fame centre Bill Russell was arrested this week at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport after Transportation Security Administration officials found a loaded gun in his luggage. Authentic Charles Woodson Jersey . -- U.S. captain Tom Watson said Monday that Tiger Woods latest back injury "doesnt bode well right now" for Woods playing in the Ryder Cup. NEW YORK -- All winter long, the New York Mets heard critics lampooning them, certain the club would hit a wall from the get-go. On Saturday, these plucky Mets got busy hitting balls over the wall. Lucas Duda homered twice and became the first player to take advantage of the pulled-in fences at Citi Field, David Wright also connected and the Mets beat Atlanta Braves 4-2. R.A. Dickey and a bolstered bullpen stayed in command and the Mets flashed some leather, too, in improving to 2-0 for the first time since 2009. "We realize we have a long way to go, but this locker room is filled with guys who believe they belong here," Mets manager Terry Collins said. Looks good to Dickey, so far. "It was a great community win -- a lot of people chipping in," he said. "Its been a good couple of days. Hopefully, we can maintain this momentum." Wright kept hitting with an opposite-field homer to right-centre in the first inning and two singles. Coming off a down year and injury-interrupted spring training, the All-Star had two hits and drove in the only run in Thursdays opener against Atlanta. As for those shortened fences, theyre totally fine by Wright. "I dont need it -- Duda does," he kidded. "It helped us out today. Nice to see guys have good at bats and get rewarded for it," he said. Martin Prado hit a two-run homer for Atlanta. His shot in the fifth ended the Braves longest season-opening shutout streak since 1980 -- this is their first 0-2 start in four years. "Were not panicking," Braves outfielder Jason Heyward said. "The first two games, it hasnt happened." With hot dog wrappers blowing around the field, Duda launched a drive to right-centre field in the fourth. The ball flew over the new fence, yet several feet in front of where the old wall still stands. "It plays fair now," Duda said. Duda hit another solo shot run in the seventh off Chad Durbin, a drive to right that wouldve been a home run in any year. It was Dudas first multihomer game in the majors. Josh Thole lined a go-ahead single in the fifth off well-travelled Livan Hernandez, making his firstt regular-season relief appearance since his major league debut in 1996. Authentic Usama Young Jersey. Dickey (1-0) allowed five hits and four walks in six innings. He had trouble getting a good grip for his signature knuckler, a common problem on cooler, windy days. "It might have been a knuckleball that didnt knuckle," he said. Dickey drew attention this spring with his revealing biography, a book in which he wrote about being sexually abused as a boy. He returned the focus to the field with his pitching, plus an alert play at the plate. Michael Bourn led off the game with a double and later tried to score from third when a pitch skittered away from Thole. But the catcher pounced on it and threw a fastball to Dickey, who tagged out the three-time NL stolen base champ. "When we made that play, I knew it was going to be a good one today," Thole said. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said Bourn hesitated, but didnt blame the speedster. "You cant fault him on that. The two guys made a play," Gonzalez said. Frank Francisco, the fourth Mets pitcher, earned his second save. Wright helped with a nifty catch in foul ground down the third-base line, then Francisco struck out pinch-hitter Matt Diaz with two runners on to end it. Jair Jurrjens (0-1) gave up three runs on seven hits and three walks in 4 1-3 innings. He made the All-Star game last year, but won just one of his final seven starts and didnt pitch in September because of an injured right knee. NOTES: The Mets are 22-0 when hitting three or more homers at Citi Field. ... Braves 3B Chipper Jones (left knee) felt fine after an off-day workout Friday. Gonzalez said Jones might play Tuesday in Houston when hes eligible to come off the disabled list. Gonzalez said Jones "definitely" would be ready for Atlantas home opener Friday vs. Milwaukee. ... Mets CF Kirk Nieuwenhuis struck out on three pitches in his first major league at-bat. He beat out an infield single his next time up and later singled again. He was promoted from Triple-A after OF Andres Torres re-injured his left calf in the opener. Collins said Nieuwenhuis and Scott Hairston would each see time in centre. ' ' '
