Jeff Carter and Tyler Toffoli scored second-period goals to lead the Los Angeles Kings to a win over the defending champions Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 on Saturday (US time) in a National Hockey League playoff game.

The Kings took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Western ­Conference final series, which continues Monday in Los Angeles and Wednesday in Chicago.

The winners will face either the New York Rangers or Montreal Canadiens in the Stanley Cup finals.

Los Angeles had the fewest regular-season goals of any playoff club but now have the highest playoff goals-per-game average of any team in this postseason.

The defending Stanley Cup champions Blackhawks gave up a lead for the second straight game.