Kings 4, Sharks 1: Justin Williams and Anze Kopitar each recorded two goals and an assist as host Los Angeles evened its Western Conference first-round series with its third consecutive victory.

Defenseman Drew Doughty recorded a pair of assists for the Kings, who have rallied from a 3-0 series deficit to force a decisive Game 7 in San Jose on Wednesday. Jonathan Quick followed up his eighth career postseason shutout with a 25-save performance.

James Sheppard scored the lone goal for the Sharks, who look to avoid becoming the fourth team in NHL history to lose a best-of-seven series after winning the first three games. Alex Stalock turned aside 26 shots in his first career playoff start.

Los Angeles got off to a good start as Doughty raced down the left wing and dished the puck to a charging Williams, who tapped it past Stalock from the crease at 5:39 of the first period. The Kings successfully killed a 5-on-3 disadvantage that lasted 98 seconds early in the middle session, but Sheppard got the equalizer at 12:26 by tipping in defenseman Justin Braun's one-timer from the right point.

Williams put Los Angeles ahead with a controversial goal midway through the third as he jabbed the puck into the net just as the referee was about the blow the whistle after his tip attempt landed under Stalock's pads. Kopitar put things away by scoring twice in 75 seconds, burying a rebound 1:31 after Williams' tally and ripping a loose puck past Stalock from the right side of the crease during a power play.

GAME NOTEBOOK: San Jose's Matt Irwin made his series debut in place of fellow D Marc-Edouard Vlasic, who suffered an upper-body injury in Game 5. Martin Havlat also appeared in the series for the first time, replacing fellow RW Mike Brown. ... The Sharks registered only two shots on goal during their lengthy 5-on-3 power play in the second period. ... Williams' two-goal performance was the third of his playoff career and second this series. He also tallied twice in Game 4. ... Kopitar has registered a point in every game of the series while fellow Kings C Jeff Carter was kept off the scoresheet for the first time. ... The winner of the series will face Anaheim, guaranteeing that a California-based team will appear in the Western Conference final for the ninth time in 11 seasons. ... Kings D Willie Mitchell played just one shift in the third period due to a knee injury suffered in the middle session.