It seemed like the Phoenix Coyotes would have to be perfect to even steal a game from the Los Angeles Kings in the NHL Western Conference playoffs. Sunday night, Mike Smith was.

On the brink of elimination, the Coyotes’ goaltender came up huge stopping all 36 shots he faced to keep his team in the series. Now, down 3-1, he’ll have to do it again on Tuesday night as Phoenix again hosts the Kings for Game 5.

Los Angeles is favored by 1 1/2 goals, according to Bovada’s Kings vs. Coyotes Betting Lines.

Sunday’s loss was the first time the Kings had been shut out in a playoff game since 2002.

“He’s been a great goalie for them all year,” said Kings forward Dustin Penner said of Smith’s performance. “As forwards, we’ve got to do something different, or a little bit better, to make him work harder, and not just be satisfied with getting the puck on net.”

Phoenix captain Shane Doan came up huge for the Coyotes, too, scored a pair of goals on Sunday. His power play goal in the first period broke Los Angeles’ streak of 30 penalty kills in a row. Typical of the guy who seems to be everywhere for his team, said head coach Dave Tippett.

“You don’t see all the things that happened behind the scenes in the dressing room, inspiration for the guys there, how much he cares about this team and winning,” Tippett said. “When you can do that behind-the-scenes stuff, bag it up with the on-the-ice stuff, it speaks volumes for who he is.”

It was just Los Angeles’ second playoff loss this season, and erases any hope for it to set the playoff win percentage record. But losing at home is nothing out of the ordinary.

Both defeats have come at the Staples Center, while the Kings have yet to lose on the road in seven games.

Phoenix, meanwhile, is just 2-5 as a home dog in its last seven opportunities.