For a team that barely squeaked into the playoffs, L.A. has proven that they not only deserve to be in the postseason, but they deserve to be the favorites to take home the most coveted prize in hockey.
The Kings have yet to lose on the road this season and the rag-tag group of players with their Vezina-finalist goaltender and their bitter beer-faced coach are turning heads with their all around impressive play.
After taking Game 1 behind another stellar performance by goalie Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles stunned the crowd at the Scottrade Center by knocking off the hometown Blues 5-2 to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinals.
The 19,366 fans witnessed the Kings open up with a 4-0 lead in the first period and embarrassing Brian Elliot on his home ice.
How could an eighth-seeded team was expected to be ousted by Vancouver without a fight in the opening round play at such a high caliber of hockey?
Finishing the regular season next to last in scoring, all season long the Kings have been anchored by Quick.
After watching the first period of Game 2, that stat could not have been any more shocking to hear.
Mike Richards' goal 31 seconds into the game had Blues fans wondering if Game 2 was going to be any better than Game 1.
The Kings came out firing on all cylinders, out-shooting the Blues 16-5 in the first period and scoring three goals during the last five minutes of the first to send chills down the home crowd's spine.
Ladies and gentlemen, the Kings are for real. This is not any run of the mill eighth seed being the Cinderella story of the postseason like the Lightning were last season.
Los Angeles has dominated its competition in the 2012 playoffs, and with a 2-0 ...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Kings
