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Those Phoenix fans wear white at home for the playoffs.

It must be an effort to add some sort of kick to the building’s atmosphere or something I guess. That’s cute.

Meanwhile, their team got worn out, just got outright beat in every facet of the game by the Kings in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals Sunday night. The Kings showed no signs of letting their 7-day hiatus slow them down. In fact, they came out playing absolutely out of their minds.

Dwight King‘s got the name, don’t call it fame. Give him a sharpie to sign that “whiteout”.

Can’t stop, won’t stop.

Temperatures exceeded 100 degrees in Glendale, but Kopi’s getting nippy

- Game 1 Looks -

They’ve started this third-round tilt on a tear, peppering Mike Smith with a whopping 48 shots, beating him genuinely three times, with many more chances that hinged on a bounce or a break.

The Kings are now 6-0 on the road in the postseason, they’re 9-1 in total, and have just momentarily stolen home-ice from the Western Conference‘s 3rd-seed club. This, after dropping both the #1 and #2 seeds in utterly stunning fashion.

Two big names for the Kings came through again on Sunday, Anze Kopitar starting the Kings’ scoring, potting a back-hand upstairs, while Dustin Brown tallied the game-winning goal on a beautifully-placed shot that handcuffed Mike Smith.

And then there’s Dwight King, who’s become a staple on the Kings’ second line after spending the majority of the season with the Manchester Monarchs of the AHL. King has shown it in all aspects since his late season call-up. He’s been a menace in all three zones, and has the speed and scoring touch you don’t see too often from guys his size.

He continues his impressive trend by potting two goals Sunday night – beautifully reading a 2-on-1 with Mike Richards to notch the Kings second goal, then sealing the deal with an empty-netter. You talk about a huge late-season addition, you talk Dwight King – very much so for his Rookie counterpart Jordan Nolan. The Granite State’s been great.

Jonathan Quick played very well once again, but didn’t see too much action from the Phoenix offense. Quick stopped 25 of 27 Coyotes’ shots to seal his 9th postseason win. The big story may be his flub on Derek Morris‘ goal from center ice, but if there’s any goalie due for a slip-up, it’s Quick. The factor here, neither Quick or the Kings faltered or surrendered momentum after the lapse.

Hold up now

- Game 2 Looks -

Head Balance: I’ve said it time and time again, and every time the Kings have proven themselves stable enough to feed off of early-series accomplishments. A Game 1 victory gets you nothing but just that, a win. You can only expect the Phoenix Coyotes to come out stronger Tuesday night, and they’re built to do that without surprise.

They’re going to make adjustments, which is something teams have failed at doing so far against the Kings this postseason. You’ve got to remember the goalie which they’re playing against, Mike Smith, and their well-known stingy defense. For the Kings to beat Phoenix’s attempt at making successful adjustments to their game, the Kings should make no adjustments.

You don’t change the way you’re playing right now, because it’s absolute gold.

Not to mention, the Coyotes are well-aware of how the Kings managed their two series’ with the Vancouver Canucks and St. Louis Blues, they’ve seen it. The goal here is to not allow them to change the pace the Kings are, and have been riding.

Final Notes

– The Kings have let opponents score two consecutive goals just once during the entire postseason, that being in their only playoff loss – Game 4 of their first-round mosey with the Vancouver Canucks. Responding to goals doesn’t just keep you at pace, it shuts down the opposition. That was huge Sunday night with Phoenix’s two tying tallies, and it will surely be a major factor again Tuesday.

– The powerplay has looked good, but hasn’t put up numbers. Man-advantage scoring is a huge bonus when we’re talking this matchup, the Kings need to spark it. You can’t look for too much, though. The Kings shut down Phoenix’s powerplay last night, and have allowed only three man-advantage goals in the playoffs. The Kings have scored more times on the penalty kill (4 shorthanded goals) than they have allowed (3).

– A quick start is so valuable, a la seen in the Kings’ 1st period frenzy Sunday night – outshooting Phoenix 17-4. Strong starts can certainly set the tone, and that’s been the Kings’ tune for the most part. Don’t give Phoenix any room early.

–  The Kings topped their game-high total for shots on Sunday, this includes the regular season. With 48 shots, that climbs above their previous total of 44 against the Minnesota Wild in December. That’s a good sign, because if you’re going to beat Mike Smith, you need a heavy gauge of shots.

Desert King

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Check out the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs spot from the “Because It’s The Cup” series, featuring the Los Angeles Kings and their fans…a KingsCast & The Royal Half Production.

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I took Sunday afternoon to let it settle, let it sink in.

Took some time away from the typewriter; a moment of silence if you will.

I will be the first to admit my following of the Kings compares little in length to many of the faithful who watched yesterday’s beautiful happening at Staples Center. However, the glory which blossomed in the waning seconds yesterday hits us all the same.

It takes the breath right out of you, sets you idle for a moment.

And what better way for it to end than from yet another connection between the Kings’ two longest current tenured forwards, two staples of the franchise. There is none.

Like it was scripted or something.

Dustin Brown and Anze Kopitar have been through some dark, difficult years with this franchise. The Kings are the only NHL team these two players know, both starting their careers in Los Angeles. They’ve grown together, they’ve struggled together, and through time, that’s a hell of a resume to build with one another. Because, when the time comes to capitalize on those turbulent experiences, it’s just that much sweeter.

An empty-net goal is something the hockey world sees regularly. It’s a simple task really, if you are provided the opportunity. However, this one was different. It came from two names that resemble this franchise to the fullest, and cemented history this team has seen just once before, and that was 19 years ago.

This one had substance.

You may not be able to comprehend it, but you can surely feel it.

–  This sends the Kings to the third-round of the NHL postseason for just the second time in franchise history. The only other season in which the Kings advanced this far was during the 1992-1993 campaign, in which they made it to the Stanley Cup Finals.

–  The Kings have never before swept a playoff series, a best-of-seven series that is. They accomplished that feat Sunday.

–  No other 8th-seeded NHL team has eliminated the #1 and #2 seeds in the same playoff year. Again, the Kings made history – and this one shook the league as a whole, not just the Kings’ record books.

–  The only two other times the Kings saw the St. Louis Blues in the postseason, 1969 and 1998, the Blues swept the Kings in both meetings. Oh, how the tables can turn.

–  You talk about the season, and you talk about overcoming struggle. The Kings trailed the Blues just one time during the entire series. That was the in the 1st period of Game 1. The Kings would strike back, and they would never look back.

If there’s a theme to be had for this playoff run, that fits the bill perfectly.

Kopitar to Brown…

Kings win.

And, ain’t it a thing of beauty.

LAK-STL GAME 4 RECAP in Episode 159 HERE
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The Los Angeles Kings are in the Western Conference Finals after sweeping the St. Louis Blues. You heard that right, hockey fans. In this episode, Keith and Chris breakdown the final game of the series, give a few quick thoughts on the upcoming series and give the Blues a little SEE YA!

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And they’re rolling.

Amidst their playoff success as a whole, the Kings have found most of it away from home, albeit they’ve only hosted two playoff dates thus far. They’ve stapled themselves as a serious visiting threat – now holding a 5-0 record when playing away from Staples Center. This hasn’t been an easy feat, starting things out in Vancouver’s hosting Rogers Arena, and now in St. Louis.

Scottrade Center?

Coming into this series with the Kings, the St. Louis Blues had lost just seven games in regulation at home all season – that being in 44 games. The Kings have ousted the Blues in two consecutive contests on home ice, and in convincing fashion. Not just that, but they’ve beat the NHL‘s statistically best goaltender in Brian Elliott, in a building he had failed to lose in twice in a row all year long.

Welp, that’s changed.

KopiStar

The Kings beat St. Louis in every facet of the game Monday night, starting things off with a Mike Richards goal just 31 seconds in. That’s an early trend to set, and they certainly didn’t fail to live up to it – tapping home four goals in the first period. It was over, and it only had just begun.

If the Kings are comfortable playing down a goal in front of Jonathan Quick, a four-goal lead just about gives them nine lives.

Most notably, Kings goals came off the sticks of players who sorely needed some postseason production. Three players notched their first goals of the postseason: Justin Williams, Jeff Carter, and Mike Richards. Anze Kopitar pitched in with two goals himself, one of them being the Kings’ 4th shorthanded tally of the postseason – quite possibly the league’s top goal of the year.

Catchin’ ‘em off guard, even the score clock.

- Game 3 Outlook -

I mentioned this during the final week of the regular season when expressing my hopes to wrap up the Western Conference #7 seed, and see the Blues in the first round. St. Louis is an extremely vulnerable club.

Before this season, the Blues had won just a single postseason game since 2004 – appearing in the playoffs just twice in that eight-year span. They’ve got a hungry fanbase and local following, something that can be overwhelming to a club returning to the playoffs after such a long period of time. See: LA Kings – 2010, 2011.

This raises the expectations exponentially, and for a young roster that doesn’t have a ton of postseason experience. The Kings have developed a seasoned group of players, and are running on a third consecutive playoff push – but with eased expectations stemming from their #8 Western Conference seed.

So, the point – the Kings have been able to take the St. Louis Blues away from their game, almost to the point where they look confused as how to skate, yet don’t let them drag down their momentum. The Blues lost it Monday, they lost it on all counts. They tried to counter it with a viciously physical attack, and the Kings countered right back with just that – hitting. This gave St. Louis absolutely no leeway.

So, the move back to Staples Center tomorrow night should have little effect, because the Kings focus is exactly where it should be. That’s hockey – any building, any time.

Final Notes

Home away from home: It won’t be the same routine for the Kings in preparation for Games 3 (Thursday) and 4 (Sunday) at Staples Center. There will be no pre-game skates along the shores of Manhattan Beach at Toyota Sports Center, and players won’t see their own beds on the nights prior to each of the upcoming two home games.

The second-coming of God, head coach Darryl Sutter, is not so much pushing for a road-game mentality, but focus. This keeps the Kings close to Staples Center, and ensures close compatibility and smart choices the nights before puck-drop.

Hello, Alexander Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn. Ah, those Russians.

This also gives the Kings the chance to skate on Staples Center ice prior to games, something they never do – the building’s schedule gives them no opportunity. This is huge, especially if St. Louis is stationed at Toyota Sports Center. The ice-sheet at Staples Center has one aspect of consistency – being under the NHL‘s par for quality. With the amount of stress and closure the ice sees here, getting a feel for conditions just hours before puck-drop is an important thing to have. Plus, it keeps the team together throughout the day until the game.

 - Simon Gagne skated with the Kings in practice today, unfortunately it’s only a good sign for a player who’s got a career in question with a lengthy string of concussion injuries. Don’t expect Gagne back anytime soon, if at all. However, good for you, Gags.

 - Alex Pietrangelo also skated with the Blues today after missing Game 2, and is said to be a ‘game-time’ decision.

 - The Kings give me no specific outlook to harp on heading into tomorrow night, they’re as tight and sophisticated as I’ve seen them all season long. It’s clicking on all cylinders.

 - Oh, and Vegas now has the Kings with the best odds to take home the Stanley Cup.

 - The track the Kings have laid this postseason has train-horn written all over it. Queue it on Figueroa St. tomorrow night.

Carter caters

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Kopi Delivers

And this ain’t the imagery coming from the ‘Lou

Order me up some buffalo boo-bird wings while you’re at it, fools

Make sure it’s got Blues cheese dressing on the side.

Don’t mistake it for Brian Elliott, that’s Swiss cheese.

LAK-STL GAME 2 RECAP in Episode 157 HERE
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It’s Game 2 for the LA Kings and St. Louis Blues in Missouri. With a 5-2 win, the Kings are now up 2-0 in the series going back to Los Angeles. In this episode we talk about the game and give you 5 things that are strange about St. Louis.

The Los Angeles Kings were poised to make history last night by sweeping the Vancouver Canucks. And, well, they didn’t. Cory Schneider lead the Canucks to a win and it will be back to British Columbia for Game 5. Question of the Day: Who will be the hero for Game 5?

It’s a 3-0 series lead for the Los Angeles Kings. The Vancouver Canucks are in a must-win situation at Staples Center as their season is on the line. In this episode we briefly touch on Game 2, breakdown Game 3 and discuss the LA Kings tweet heard around the world.

The 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs have begun and the Los Angeles Kings are off to a decent start against the Vancouver Canucks. In this episode we talk Game 1 in Vancouver and send a welcome message to Canucks fans up North. Stay tuned, KingsCast will be doing a show after every game.

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The slipper better fit for any reasonable hope in the Kings pulling out a successful Western Conference Quarterfinals bid against the NHL’s best Vancouver Canucks.

After sealing a postseason berth Thursday evening, thanks to the Dallas Stars‘ downward spiral, the Kings did nothing to help themselves in attaining good position entering the playoffs. After failing to key in on opportunities to capture 3rd and/or 7th place in the Western Conference, the Kings fell to the edge of the playoff cliff, finding themselves at 8th at season’s end. In doing so, they forfeited a chance at home-ice in the first round, and a shot at an extremely vulnerable St. Louis Blues club.

But really, you give yourself a chance to reflect on the season that has been, and to not be grateful for a playoff bid, even as the bottom seed looking up at the Presidents’ trophy winners, you’ve got to be content.

Confident? Well, that’s another story.

- Season Series -

As is the case with inter-Conference play, the Kings met the Vancouver Canucks on four occasions during the regular season. The two clubs matched up pretty evenly in all four contests, three of the games decided by just one goal. Here’s a quick look back at the four dates between the two playoff opponents:

November 10, 2011

Vancouver Canucks (3) @ LA Kings (2)
Game Highlights

Quick Notes: Vancouver would run away early with three 1st period goals, the first two coming on the powerplay. The Kings would chip away with one in the 2nd, and another with just 1:10 remaining. Jonathan Quick stopped 29 of 32 shots, Anze Kopitar records two assists.

December 31, 2011

Vancouver Canucks (1) @ LA Kings (4)
Game Highlights

Quick Notes: Anze Kopitar would snap his 17-game goal drought, the Russians Slava Voynov and Andrei Loktionov combined for four points, and Jonathan Quick stopped 27 of 28 shots.

January 17, 2012

Vancouver Canucks (2) VS LA Kings (3) *Final/Shootout
Game Highlights

Quick Notes: The Kings would pepper Roberto Luongo with 41 shots, only to credit two regulation goals. Dustin Penner scored, there’s a storyline in itself. Justin Williams and Mike Richards would pot shootout goals to solidify two points for the Kings.

March 26, 2012

Vancouver Canucks (1) VS LA Kings (0)
Game Highlights

Quick Notes: This would be the sixth and final time during the season that the Kings lose by the score of 1-0. Roberto Luongo stood on his head, stopping all 38 Kings shots. Jonathan Quick was solid yet again, but the offense couldn’t match Manny Malhotra‘s early tally.

Keys to the series

First – Aid: The health status of Jeff Carter is going to be a major factor in how the series plays out, Carter missed the final five games of the regular season with an ankle injury. Reports, however, have signs pointing toward Carter dressing tomorrow night. If he does in fact play, it’s not sure that he’ll be 100%, you can certainly relate this to Justin Williams toughing out a shoulder injury in last season’s playoff tilt with the San Jose Sharks.

Carter’s most important characteristic is alleviating pressure off of the first line, giving the Kings two threatening lines, making Vancouver’s match-ups a bit more difficult. If Carter isn’t to play, Vancouver will target Anze Kopitar and the first line, which is a simple assignment for a team of Vancouver’s caliber. Jeff Carter just isn’t another scoring threat, but a player who can balance the Kings’ offensive threats, giving the Canucks two major lines – not just one, to implement into their defensive gameplan.

While we’re talking injuries, Brad Richardson fits the topic. Richardson is out indefinitely with an appendectomy, and Andrei Loktionov will meet the team in Vancouver tomorrow to fill his void. Richardson, who came out of nowhere to record five points in last year’s Western Conference Quarterfinals against the San Jose Sharks, is not a loss that should have much effect on the outcome of the series. However, Loktionov can prove to have an impact. How about it, Andrei?

Quick fixin’

Playing the pipes: Goaltending is going to play a huge factor in this series, and surprisingly, Jonathan Quick may have the advantage in this situation. Quick, a Vezina trophy candidate, and a favorite to take the hardware, knows very well what’s at stake. He’s used to depending on his own performance, rather than leaning on the forwards in front of him, as we’ve seen all year long. Quick will be comfortable with being behind, at a stalemate, or with a slim lead. We know this, and we know he performs under this pressure. Do you dare question Vancouver’s goaltending? I do.

Vancouver’s Roberto Luongo has been a staple in the NHL as one of the elite, if not the best goalie in the league for quite some time. However, he’s had a backup in Cory Schneider this season who threatens his playing time if the results aren’t acceptable. Schneider, who’s started 28 games and relieved in five more, holds a staggering 20-8-1 record with a .937 save percentage. This shows you that the Canucks do not have a “sure bet” in net, which can prove to be a vital weakness come postseason play.

For the Kings to score in this series is one thing, but for them to initiate a goaltending move could prove to be a major impact in the series. The Kings have two good goaltenders in Quick and Jonathan Bernier, but they know who’s going to play. The Canucks have two good goaltenders in Luongo and Schneider, but they could switch roles at any moment. This adds pressure to the shoulders of Vancouver’s netminders, who could lose their role with one sub-par game. For the Kings, playing mind games with Vancouver’s crease could be the deciding factor in having a chance in this series. Of course, that means scoring.

Early and often

Electric bill: When these two clubs met in the postseason in 2010, they combined for a whopping goal-total in the six game series, with 43 – the Kings scoring 18, the Canucks 25. Mind this, the Kings had to score 18 goals to last just six games, a straight-laced three goal average that hasn’t been too easy to meet consistently this season.

Nothing helps goal scoring better than success on the powerplay. The Kings were immaculate with their powerplay production in the last two contests against San Jose, a definite positive you can take from those two losses. In the two games they executed by scoring six goals in nine man-advantage opportunities, that’s phenomenal.

Something else worth noting, of the Kings 18 goals scored in their 2010 Western Conference Quarterfinals series with the Vancouver Canucks, 10 of those 18 tallies came on the powerplay. And in the Kings’ two victories in that series, they acted accordingly with success on five of their nine man-advantage opportunities. It was key then, and you can bet it will be just as important – if not more, this time around.

Anze Kopitar notched his first career NHL playoff goal against the Canucks on the powerplay two years back, a goal that lifted the Kings to their first postseason victory since 2002.

Let it play out as a good omen, if you will.

No series prediction here. You’ve either got to be crazy, or a ‘negative fan’ to voice one from this side. It’s going to begin to play itself out in Vancouver, BC tomorrow night at 7:30 PM. That’s the bottom line, and that’s all you can afford to focus on.

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