KINGS 5, BLUES 2: Anze Kopitar scored twice as visiting Los Angeles took advantage of a thinned out St. Louis defense to take a 2-0 lead in their Western Conference semifinal series.

The Kings rode a four-goal first period to the easy victory, having their way with a Blues defense corps that looked completely overmatched without anchor Alex Pietrangelo. The young blue-liner was ruled out for Monday after taking a hard hit from Dwight King in the Blues' Game 1 loss.

The eighth-seeded Kings now find themselves in control heading into the third game of the best-of-seven series set for Thursday in Los Angeles.

The Kings struck quickly, getting on the board 31 seconds into the game. Dustin Penner knocked St. Louis defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk off the puck deep in the Blues' zone before getting it to Mike Richards, whose shot from in close eluded Blues netminder Brian Elliott.

Los Angeles made it a two-goal edge while shorthanded at 14:16. Dustin Brown connected on a pinpoint pass to Kopitar, who deked out Elliott before firing the puck into the net.

Jeff Carter extended the lead with 1:23 remaining on a wicked wrist shot that beat Elliott up high, and Kopitar's second of the night just over a minute later completed the Kings' dominant first period.

Andy McDonald put the Blues on the board 16 seconds into the second period, only to see Justin Williams counter with his first of the playoffs at 1:26 to make it a 5-1 game.

Matt D'Agostini added a meaningless goal just past the five-minute mark of the third frame, finding the top corner behind Kings netminder Jonathan Quick after defenseman Slava Voynov turned the puck over.

GAME NOTEBOOK: King was made to atone for his Game 1 hit on Pietrangelo, engaging in a spirited fight with Blues tough guy B.J. Crombeen 4:41 into the opening period. ... St. Louis didn't register its first shot on goal until the 9:22 mark of the first period. The Kings had racked up eight shots by then. ... Brown's assist on Kopitar's first goal gives him four shorthanded points in the playoffs. That's the most in any one postseason since Detroit's Henrik Zetterberg had four in 2008. ... The Blues had allowed five goals in a game only twice under coach Ken Hitchcock during the regular season.