Kings vs. Coyotes: Jonathan Quick Will Ensure an LA Sweep and 2012 Stanley Cup

A hot goaltender can change everything in the NHL playoffs, and that is why Jonathan Quick will lead his Los Angeles Kings to a commanding 4-0 sweep over the Phoenix Coyotes in the Western Conference finals to move onto the 2012 Stanley Cup Final.

The Kings came into the playoffs as the No. 8 seed, but eliminated the top-ranked Vancouver Canucks in five games. They then destroyed the second-seeded St. Louis Blues in four games.

Now, against the No. 3 seed, Los Angeles is looking to complete an incredible tear through the West, and have the opportunity to complete the sweep Sunday afternoon at Staples Center.

This has all been on the shoulders of Quick, who has the highest postseason save percentage among goalies who have played at least four playoff games.

In hockey, it is not uncommon for a low seed to make a run behind its goalie. The most recent example is the 2010 Montreal Canadiens, who won two Game 7s to advance to the Eastern Conference finals. The Habs received an inspired postseason performance from Jaroslav Halak that year.

But the Kings' run is much different. They are not squeaking by the top teams in their conference—they are blowing them out.

The team is playing with unmatched confidence and making their opponents look foolish at times.

Los Angeles has only lost one playoff game to date, and that was the only game in which Quick allowed more than two goals.

The Kings' Game 3 victory was the their eighth playoff game in a row in which Los Angeles won and Quick held the opposing team to two goals or less. As NHL.com notes, the last goaltender to accomplish the feat was Hall of Famer Terry Sawchuck in 1952 for the Detroit Red Wings.

Quick's postseason performance has been historic and the 26-year-old Connecticut native has shown no signs of slowing down. His out-of-this-world reaction time in goal have been the driving force behind the Kings' success so far, and that will not change before Los Angeles reaches the Stanley Cup Final.