.

The Kings will stay within California State boundaries for their Western Conference Semifinals series after their triumphant comeback to oust the St. Louis Blues in six games in the Western Conference Quarterfinals, winning four straight contests against St. Louis after facing an early, and gut-checking two-loss deficit.

How they continue to grow.

A best-of-seven date is slated to start against the San Jose Sharks in Downtown Los Angeles Tuesday night at Staples Center.

Everything was aligned for the Kings’ second-round series to involve our neighbors from Orange County – the other NHL club from Southern California.

The Anaheim Ducks just couldn’t keep up.

The Kings will move up, and do so against their Pacific Division opponent from up North, who they have recent postseason history against.

San Jose was the opponent in the Kings 2011 Western Conference Quarterfinals series, and it was a lopsided affair that turned out to be much closer than expected, and was certainly closer than the results that series ultimately showed.

The Sharks prevailed against us in the 2011 NHL Playoffs, but it was so against a much younger, weaker Kings roster.

If you compare the growth and improvement of each of these rosters since that 2011 postseason bout, the Kings’ plus-side blows the Sharks out of the water.

The Kings were without Anze Kopitar in that one and only previous postseason matchup with the San Jose Sharks, while he was recovering from a broken ankle that left him out of the lineup indefinitely.

But the young stars were definite.

Doughty’s dos

No Dought

Drew Doughty, who was moderately quiet throughout the majority of the regular season, but ended up with a respectable six goals and 16 assists for 22 points at season’s end, reignited his clutch offensive ways Friday night against the St. Louis Blues in Game six, notching the Kings’ first goal of the contest with the kind of moves and suave we’ve come to know all too well from #8 the previous two years.

Playoff ‘Bout

Youth Hangout

Plus Some: The Kings’ youth carried them through their last postseason matchup against the San Jose Sharks in 2011, but their development – plus some absolutely crucial additions to the roster via the aggressive ways of GM Dean Lombardi, should make this upcoming Western Conference Semifinals series a great opportunity not just for revenge, but overall self-proof of what this roster has beautifully grown to become to be.

Kyle Clifford‘s the one player who you can connect with both the Kings’ current position, and the Kings’ playoff matchup against the San Jose Sharks in April of 2011.

He was, at times, the best player for the Kings in this past Western Conference Quarterfinals series against the St. Louis Blues.

And as an NHL rookie, he was rocking the same type of impact.

Red Dog, Light

Purple light: The Kings, in that series, would retire a bit of history, wearing purple on the road for the final time in their 3-1 victory in Game 5 of the 2011 Western Conference Quarterfinals.

The player to tally the third and final goal for the Kings in their purple visiting sweaters was Dustin Penner, the same player to bury the game-winning tally on Saturday night against the St. Louis Blues.

Oil left in the Tank

The White/Purple road uniforms were retired that year.

The Black/Purple home uniforms were retired this year.

Dustin Penner won’t be a King next year.

It’s just mother nature’s cycle.

Laser Penner

Don’t get caught up with Dustin Penner now, just love his current play. It’s like a dying light bulb shining it’s brightest before it’s, well, ending.

If playoffs was in her Pepsi cup

This innocent little girl would be choking.

Whether it be like Old Times

Or what Today finds

Just let it Roll

Fresh Feelings

The Kings played the San Jose Sharks only four times during this season’s shortened and compacted schedule due to the NHL‘s rather lengthy lockout.

They pulled out ahead in the end, but just barely, finishing with a 2-1-1 record against Northern California’s black and teal.

Each team has earned two points when playing in home confines. The Kings, however, were able to snag a point from San Jose at HP Pavilion on April 16th, forcing that night’s date with the Sharks to go past regulation.

The Kings outscored the Sharks 13-10 during regulation play.

It’s all off the books now.

Don’t depend on anything.

Not even a Hail Mary

Puck drops against the San Jose Sharks for Game 1 of the NHL‘s Western Conference Semifinals Tuesday night at 7:00PM PST in Downtown Los Angeles at Staples Center.

Episode 194 KingsCast TV: LAK-STL Game 5 WCQF RECAP – HERE
Episode 195 KingsCast TV: LAK-STL Game 6 WCQF RECAP – HERE
Follow the blog on Twitter HERE
Get your Official KingsCast Apparel HERE
KingsCast Hockey Podcast on  —  Facebook  -  Twitter  -  Youtube

For the second consecutive year, the Los Angeles Kings have defeated the St. Louis Blues to advance in the NHL Playoffs. In this new episode, Chris is once again joined by hockey blogger Alex Kinkopf to discuss Game 6, present a Playoff Beard Update (sort of), give an official See Ya! to the Blues and breakdown the Pros & Cons of playing the Sharks or Ducks in the next round. Go Kings!

Boom! The LA Kings storm back to take the game and even the series with the St. Louis Blues at 2 games a piece. In this new installment we breakdown Game 4, discuss the full team effort, give a Playoff Beard update and preview Game 5 in St. Louis. Go Kings!

.

A trip home can do it all.

For the Kings, the two game return to Staples Center in their Western Conference Quarterfinals dance with the St. Louis Blues saw them pull off two consecutive wins, tying the series 2-2, while rediscovering their offense that trudged through an uncharacteristically cold and ugly start to the postseason.

They rediscovered their winning ways before rejuvenating their offense, winning 1-0 Saturday night at Staples Center in Game 3 of the series. The Kings maintained their one-goal-per game quota in Game 3, but this time around, Jonathan Quick made sure no off-hand mistakes were made to grant St. Louis any success.

Talk about a save.

The Kings were lifted by a defenseman offensively in their Game 3 shutout victory, Vyacheslav Voynov tallying the lone goal of the contest that would ultimately breathe new life into the Kings’ playoff run.

*NEW KingsCast TV: Episode 192 – LAK/STL Game 3 WCQF RECAP

Voynov, who is playing in only his second NHL season, has looked like a veteran from the day he joined the Kings’ roster as a 21 year-old on the evening of October 18, 2011, his debut game which came against none other than the St. Louis Blues.

Since then, he’s solidified himself as an absolute staple to the Kings’ blue-line.

A staple that locked up Game 3.

Debut Strut

Pro Cut

Game 3 Kaput

Nothing New About it

Quick Fixin’

Cement in the Crease: The Kings, without Jonathan Quick, would not have had a prayer in even coming close in Games 1 and 2 in this series against the St. Louis Blues without last year’s Conn Smythe Trophy winner’s stalwart play.

You can’t expect much when you score just once in 60 minutes.

Unfortunately, though, Quick’s costly mistakes to Alexander Steen‘s penalty-kill pressure in Game 1 and Barret Jackman‘s hapless shot in Game 2 cost the Kings their two losses.

This was as much the fault of the Kings’ offense as it was Jonathan Quick‘s, but Quick proved to be the bigger asset first – granting the Kings a win without a shutout performance, stopping every single one of St. Louis’ 30 shots Saturday night.

The Kings’ struggling offense was saved in Game 3, but two nights later, they took matters into their own hands in Game 4.

*NEW KingsCast TV: Episode 193 – LAK/STL Game 4 WCQF RECAP

Monday night proved to be a barn-burner at Staples Center, the Kings overcoming two deficits offensively, recording four goals against the St. Louis Blues to land their second-straight win, while finally giving Jonathan Quick some well-deserved support.

The scoring itself came in abundance, and it leaked to just about half of the Kings’ roster.

11 Kings players recorded at least one point in Game 4 Monday night.

Record it with a Penner and Paper

Circuit City

Purposeful Penner: Throughout his two-year tenure with the Kings, which will likely come to an end after this season, Dustin Penner‘s presence has been portrayed in a rather negative fashion, which, at times, has been the cold-hard and honest look at the veteran winger’s performance.

He’s found a new wind in the Kings’ playoff series against the St. Louis Blues, looking faster and more prone to induce production than he ever has in a Los Angeles uniform.

In his four games in the Western Conference Quarterfinals, Dustin Penner has been a hot commodity for the Kings’ offensive pressure.

Penner has laid 10 hits on St. Louis, he’s directed nine shots Brian Elliott‘s way, and he’s scored a goal, that quite frankly, the Kings couldn’t have done without in order to pull away with a win in Game 4 Monday night.

Who says you can’t still pull some moves as an aging NHL forward, on and off the ice, even after a nasty divorce.

It’s better than that pancake sh*t.

Speaker City

Kopitar Fitting

20 games, 41 days

That was the span Anze Kopitar had gone without recording a goal until he keyed on Dustin Brown‘s outstanding puck possession and the needle-thread like pass he fed to Kopitar in the 3rd period Monday night.

The Kings were just 12:46 minutes away from a dreadful 3-1 series deficit.

And then, the two most tenured players on this roster, the two names that have been the strongest identities to this organization, the two that have grown together during some of the darkest days this franchise has been through, came through.

Dustin Brown, who built the Kings’ game-tying goal in Game 4 Monday night with his utterly dominating possession of the puck deep in the Blues’ zone, was waiting anxiously for some help to execute on the defensive scramble St. Louis found itself in.

He was waiting for Anze Kopitar to come back.

Family Time

Anze Kopitar came home.

Nothing wrong with coming through the back door.

Rally back, Monkey off the back

Game 5 Jive

How do you want it: The Kings, fresh off a win that saw their rejuvenated roster record points from 11 different players in Game 4, head back to St. Louis, Missouri for Game 5 in the same exact fashion – rejuvenated. 

It’s back to Scottrade Center.

You couldn’t trade the game’s setting for the world.

Because when you’re playing, you’re playing.

Where? It shouldn’t matter.

Keep it going, now.

Puck drops in downtown St. Louis, Missouri Wednesday evening for Game 5 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the St. Louis Blues at Scottrade Center at 6:00PM PST.

Episode 192 KingsCast TV: LAK-STL Game 3 WCQF RECAP – HERE
Episode 193 KingsCast TV: LAK-STL Game 4 WCQF RECAP – HERE
Follow the blog on Twitter HERE
Get your Official KingsCast Apparel HERE
KingsCast Hockey Podcast on  —  Facebook  -  Twitter  -  Youtube

That’s more like it! The Los Angeles Kings hold on for a 1-0 win against the St. Louis Blues at Staples Center in Game 3, making the series 2-1 Blues. In this episode we breakdown the game, preview Game 4, discuss Staples Center concessions, update our Playoff beard tracker and provide genius commentary. Go Kings!

The Stanley Cup title defense has begun! In this episode we breakdown Game 1 between the Los Angeles Kings and St. Louis Blues, make witty observations & give our Top 5 changes Coach Sutter should make for Game 2. Go Kings!

The shortened NHL season trudges on. Back in action with another riveting and contentious regular season installment is KingsCast. In this episode we breakdown the 1st road trip of the season, talk Vancouver & Nashville games, attempt to figure out what’s wrong with the LA Kings and of course, discuss Mike Richards. What would you do to steer this team in the right direction?

.

The look now turns to Nashville. And as of late, the looks have been good.

Kind of like that girl in the green shirt.

The Kings, after trudging slow to start the season with an 0-3-0 record, have pulled off two consecutive wins, the latest coming in sensational fashion. Staples Center donned it’s ice surface again Monday night, and presented quite a show.

It came via Voynov. Vyacheslav Voynov arguably has one of the best pass-to-shot one-time releases for an NHL defenseman. Like a boomerang.

What will 43 seconds do for you?

VV for W

Andrei wants out?

Russian the process: While one of the two Kings’ Russian prodigies continues to prosper in a Kings uniform, the other is struggling to utilize his skills at the NHL level. Andrei Loktionov, who is buried beneath a very heavy depth chart at the Centerman position in the Kings’ organization, remains with the AHL‘s Manchester Monarchs.

Loktionov has reportedly requested a trade, and it would be hard to blame the 22-year old native of Voskresensk, Russia for doing so.

He’s looking up at a group of proven names that includes Anze Kopitar, Mike Richards, and Jarret Stoll – all of whom are under contracts for many years to come. And it’s pretty obvious that Loktionov has no business in a fourth-line role.

His options are pretty much zeroed-out at this point, even if you consider a transfer to a wing position – which Terry Murray experimented with early last season, and that failed to resonate into anything useful.

Loktionov is having a stellar season in Manchester, however. Through 35 games this season, the young forward has posted seven goals and 15 assists for 22 points. If he’s ever able to graduate from the AHL level and make it as a full-time NHL forward, chances are it won’t be with the Kings.

Alas, Andrei Loktionov has spoken an honest word in his request for a trade.

Roster Rumbles

Take a Seat: After dressing in the Kings’ first two games of the season, Dustin Penner has been a healthy scratch at Darryl Sutter‘s discretion – sitting out the previous three contests, and will likely do the same tonight against the Nashville Predators.

The Kings’ aging forward has struggled to maintain pace on the ice. His size and strength is a wonder, but slowing down can become a rather quick process for a player with a build and stature such as Penner’s.

The fourth line for the Kings is all but locked up, with Kyle Clifford, Colin Fraser, and Jordan Nolan securing their spots for the meantime with their aggressive and abrasive play. This would mean finding room for Penner somewhere on the Kings’ top-three line scheme.

I don’t see that happening anytime soon, the same goes with his return to the lineup.

Willie-Nilly

The return of Willie Mitchell will continue to be put on hold. The Kings’ stay-at-home defenseman will miss his sixth game of the season while attempting to reach 100% health after minor knee surgery, in which recovery has taken much longer than initially thought.

Darryl Sutter has shown subtle signs of impatience in waiting for Mitchell to return, leaning on the defenseman’s perceived medical clearance – which has become yet another gray area.

Mitchell, who injured himself in his rehab process from surgery, has only been cleared to practice. He’s been skating lightly at Toyota Sports Center, but has dedicated more time to off-ice training and recovery.

Considering Mitchell’s age, and the vital importance he holds down the stretch of this shortened season, his return is nothing that should be rushed. For Willie Mitchell and the Kings, staying out of the lineup for now is an intelligent move.

Don’t be the Victim

It’s the Nashville Predators tonight at Staples Center in the Kings sixth contest of the season. This is a beleaguered team. Nashville has started with a lowly 1-2-3 record, and is coming off a 4-0 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes in Glendale, Arizona.

Pekka Rinne, who led all NHL goaltenders in regular season wins last season with 43, has yet to pick up a win in his first five starts for the Predators.

Speaking of goaltending…

Don’t be shocked to see backup goaltender Jonathan Bernier in net for the Kings tonight. It is, after all, the Nashville Predators – a team which Bernier has been prone to get the call against in recent seasons. If Darryl Sutter is looking for a good time to shimmy Bernier into the mix for a game, that time is tonight.

Setting the bar against Nashville

Bar-down and beautiful.

Puck drops downtown Thursday night against the Nashville Predators at 7:30PM PST.

Episode 177: L.A Kings Raise the Banner – HERE
Follow the blog on Twitter HERE
Get your Official KingsCast Apparel HERE
KingsCast Hockey Podcast on  —  Facebook  -  Twitter  -  Youtube

The Los Angeles Kings should be at the beginning of their Stanley Cup defense. Instead, the NHL is locked out. Games are cancelled but Keith and Chris are back in action with a brand new episode. In this show we talk about the NHL lockout, talk LA Kings players in Europe, debut some special edition t-shirts and say “See Ya!” to Scott Parse.

.

These are the kind of things you keep around for a while.

The kind of things that staple this club as a threat to be a menace for years.

For the Kings, they’re going for another round next season with a slew of the same faces that brought the Stanley Cup to Los Angeles this season, all of them in fact.

There’s not much more you can ask for than roster consistency following a championship season, let’s not play games here. Big-contract names and trade-deadline rentals are often shipped to another city after the Stanley Cup is brought to such-said city.

The Kings have none of that. They have everything they’ve had.

Down for a decade

Quick for Long: Dean Lombardi was vehement in coming to terms with arguably, if not already considered, the team’s most valuable asset. Both sides agreed to guidelines days before Sunday’s announcement.

Jonathan Quick has been signed to a 10-year, $58 million contract extension, but it will not take into effect until the 2013-2014 campaign.

That’s another eleven seasons, for now, with a goaltender who didn’t just carry the 29th-ranked NHL offense into the postseason, but rolled on with a 16-4 playoff record, posting a 1.41 GAA, a .946 Sv%, mixed in with three shutouts.

If you’re not locking that up, you’re not Dean Lombardi. Hot hands.

As for Jonathan Bernier, you want him to stay for extremely sensible purposes as a Kings fan. If you’re Jonathan Bernier, you’re probably wanting out — a bit. Bernier appeared in just 16 games this season, 13 of which were starts. He never got a taste of playoff hockey, either.

Sign it with a Penner

Intact: The Kings locked up another unrestricted free agent, going discount style with Dustin Penner on a 1-year $3.25 million contract. This now means the Kings will have every player from their postseason roster come October, for now.

That’s undoubtedly a good thing for the Kings, and Dustin Penner was shades better throughout the playoffs. But, do you expect a rise in play from him? Not necessarily. A comfortable fit on the back-end when he’s on par, and a good presence off the ice as well.

Tough to say anything bad about another go with Penner.

That leaves Scott Parse as the only other notable unrestricted free agent the Kings have dwindling. You can almost guarantee the finish to his Kings career, but he still has the potential to get looks elsewhere. All the Kings have known is injuries with Parse, it’s fair to cut ties.

If it works, it’ll be somewhere else.

Quick and out

Hockey Fest 2011 – A KingsCast Production – Part 1  Part 2
Follow the blog on Twitter HERE
Get your Official KingsCast Apparel HERE
KingsCast Hockey Podcast on  —  Facebook  -  Twitter  -  Youtube