NEW YORK — The Garden was ready. The capacity crowd was loud and prepared for the New York Rangers’ first home game in the finals in 20 years. But the experienced Los Angeles Kings, who had never won a playoff game at Madison Square Garden, spoiled the party.

Once more the Kings’ top players guided them to a victory, a 3-0 win that put them up three games to none over the Rangers.

The veteran Jeff Carter scored with 0.8 seconds left in the first period, and then Marian Gaborik, the former Rangers forward, and Anze Kopitar set up defenseman Jake Muzzin for another score early in the second. Center Mike Richards made it 3-0 late in the second, and goaltender Jonathan Quick turned away all 32 shots the Rangers sent his way, leaving the Kings on the verge of completing a sweep.

“We are a very good team when we get ahead,” said Kings captain Dustin Brown, who centers the line with Gaborik and Kopitar. “We grind away and gradually take over games.”

Carter and Richards, who were key pieces when the Kings beat the Devils in six games to claim the franchise’s first Cup two years ago, each had strong games, with Carter collecting a team-high four shots on goal.

“We’re a team playing with confidence,” Richards said.

Kopitar, who led the Kings in scoring in the regular season, had his team-leading 21st assist.

Gaborik, who leads all scorers this postseason with 13 goals, was making his first appearance on Garden ice since the Rangers traded him to Columbus in April 2013. The Blue Jackets dealt him to the Kings this season, in March.

His line buzzed Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers’ net all night. The Kings had only 15 shots, but it felt as if they dominated play much of the night.

“We played a solid game, no more than that,” Kings coach Darryl Sutter said.

Gaborik had his ups and downs while with the Rangers. Two seasons of 40-plus goals and a 22-goal campaign in which he was hampered by injury culminated in a difficult final season under John Tortorella and a less-than-ideal departure for Gaborik.

But in his three months as a King, Gaborik has flourished. Now he is a victory from hoisting the Cup on his former home ice.

“I have great memories of my time here,” Gaborik said Monday after the Kings’ morning skate. “But it’s all about business now.”