The Los Angeles Kings (YES THE LOS ANGELES KINGS!) have the most playoff victories in the league over the past three seasons. These same Los Angeles Kings who did not reach the playoffs from 2002 through 2009 and who only made it out of the first round once (reached second round in 2001) from 1993 (when they reached the Stanley Cup Finals, losing to the Montreal Canadiens) until the 2012 playoffs. From the 2012 postseason until now, they have won EIGHT postseason series, which is only three fewer than they had won in their entire franchise history prior to 2012. Just how have they done it?
It all starts with Jonathan Quick, arguably the most talented goaltender in the NHL. After allowing an average of over three goals per game during his first two postseasons in 2010 and 2011, Quick absolutely dominated the 2012 postseason, allowing only a staggering 1.46 goals per game in 20 contests. That season, the Kings lone Stanley Cup win in its franchise history, the Kings entered the postseason as the eighth seed. All they did was go 8-1 against the top two seeds in the West, Vancouver and St. Louis, and then go 8-3 against the third-seeded Phoenix Coyotes and New Jersey Devils to win it all. In the 16-4 postseason run, Quick posted three shutouts and only allowed 29 goals in 20 games.
Quick has also fared admirably well in these past two seasons, as he has led the Kings to the conference finals for a third straight season this year (second straight against the Chicago Blackhawks in the Conference Finals). Quick posted a 1.86 GAA in the 2013 postseason, even with a subpar defense in front of him, as he posted numerous spectacular saves throughout last year's run. In fact, the Kings are the ONLY team in the last three years to have allowed an average of under two goals per game in a single postseason. They did it twice. Great goaltending will always give you a chance to win and Quick has been incredibly elite during the biggest stage.
In addition to Quick, the Kings have had exceptional veteran play that has allowed them to win several big games in the past three years. The Kings have been an 8-seed, 5-seed, and a 6-seed in the past three years; they have had to begin all but one series on the road in the past three postseasons. That has not deterred this team one bit. In 2012, the Kings won their first TEN road games and only lost Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals in New Jersey. While they struggled on the road last postseason, they still managed to win Game 5 in St. Louis, which pulled the series in LA's favor (Kings went on to win in 6). This postseason, they have won two Game 7's on the road against two of the best regular season teams this year, San Jose and Anaheim. In the San Jose series, the Kings came back from a 3-0 series deficit to win the series, only the fourth time that has ever happened in this sport.
The frontline features a balanced and experienced scoring attack and have received scoring contributions from multiple lines. This year, the acquisition of Marian Gaborik has elevated the offensive prowess of the Kings and given them added playmaking skills. He's featured in the top line with Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown; the second line includes Tanner Pearson, Jeff Carter, and Tyler Toffoli; the third line plays Trevor Lewis, Jarret Stoll, and Justin Williams; and the final line has Dwight King, Mike Richards, and Kyle Clifford. In all, they have the luxury of playing FOUR game-changing centers in Kopitar, Carter, Stoll, and Richards, who combine experience with great puck-handling abilities. Each of the four centers have played with the Kings for the past three postseasons and each player has at least seven years of experience. That has provided great depth and leadership for the team.
Drew Doughty has done an excellent job over the past few seasons of leading the backline and Quick's excellence has allowed him to take more chances on the ice. Doughty has logged over 27 minutes of ice time per game, along with line-mate Jake Muzzin, as the Kings defensemen have done an excellent job of leading the special teams units on the ice. Already this postseason, the Kings have scored 13 power play goals, including two in Wednesday's 6-2 drubbing over Chicago.
Overall, the Kings are poised to make yet another Stanley Cup run this season thanks to their combination of Quick and the experience in front of him. When they score first, they are incredibly difficult to beat and this group is one of the most resilient teams in the history of the league. They have won SIX elimination games already this postseason and won every game of the San Jose series by at least three goals. Los Angeles has won each of their Game 7's by a four-goal margin. Needless to say, this team rises up when the stakes are highest, as Los Angeles has proven to be a remarkable postseason force.
It all starts with Jonathan Quick, arguably the most talented goaltender in the NHL. After allowing an average of over three goals per game during his first two postseasons in 2010 and 2011, Quick absolutely dominated the 2012 postseason, allowing only a staggering 1.46 goals per game in 20 contests. That season, the Kings lone Stanley Cup win in its franchise history, the Kings entered the postseason as the eighth seed. All they did was go 8-1 against the top two seeds in the West, Vancouver and St. Louis, and then go 8-3 against the third-seeded Phoenix Coyotes and New Jersey Devils to win it all. In the 16-4 postseason run, Quick posted three shutouts and only allowed 29 goals in 20 games.
Quick has also fared admirably well in these past two seasons, as he has led the Kings to the conference finals for a third straight season this year (second straight against the Chicago Blackhawks in the Conference Finals). Quick posted a 1.86 GAA in the 2013 postseason, even with a subpar defense in front of him, as he posted numerous spectacular saves throughout last year's run. In fact, the Kings are the ONLY team in the last three years to have allowed an average of under two goals per game in a single postseason. They did it twice. Great goaltending will always give you a chance to win and Quick has been incredibly elite during the biggest stage.
In addition to Quick, the Kings have had exceptional veteran play that has allowed them to win several big games in the past three years. The Kings have been an 8-seed, 5-seed, and a 6-seed in the past three years; they have had to begin all but one series on the road in the past three postseasons. That has not deterred this team one bit. In 2012, the Kings won their first TEN road games and only lost Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals in New Jersey. While they struggled on the road last postseason, they still managed to win Game 5 in St. Louis, which pulled the series in LA's favor (Kings went on to win in 6). This postseason, they have won two Game 7's on the road against two of the best regular season teams this year, San Jose and Anaheim. In the San Jose series, the Kings came back from a 3-0 series deficit to win the series, only the fourth time that has ever happened in this sport.
The frontline features a balanced and experienced scoring attack and have received scoring contributions from multiple lines. This year, the acquisition of Marian Gaborik has elevated the offensive prowess of the Kings and given them added playmaking skills. He's featured in the top line with Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown; the second line includes Tanner Pearson, Jeff Carter, and Tyler Toffoli; the third line plays Trevor Lewis, Jarret Stoll, and Justin Williams; and the final line has Dwight King, Mike Richards, and Kyle Clifford. In all, they have the luxury of playing FOUR game-changing centers in Kopitar, Carter, Stoll, and Richards, who combine experience with great puck-handling abilities. Each of the four centers have played with the Kings for the past three postseasons and each player has at least seven years of experience. That has provided great depth and leadership for the team.
Drew Doughty has done an excellent job over the past few seasons of leading the backline and Quick's excellence has allowed him to take more chances on the ice. Doughty has logged over 27 minutes of ice time per game, along with line-mate Jake Muzzin, as the Kings defensemen have done an excellent job of leading the special teams units on the ice. Already this postseason, the Kings have scored 13 power play goals, including two in Wednesday's 6-2 drubbing over Chicago.
Overall, the Kings are poised to make yet another Stanley Cup run this season thanks to their combination of Quick and the experience in front of him. When they score first, they are incredibly difficult to beat and this group is one of the most resilient teams in the history of the league. They have won SIX elimination games already this postseason and won every game of the San Jose series by at least three goals. Los Angeles has won each of their Game 7's by a four-goal margin. Needless to say, this team rises up when the stakes are highest, as Los Angeles has proven to be a remarkable postseason force.
No comments:
Post a Comment