St. Louis Blues, Los Angeles Kings set for Game 1 of Semi-Finals -NHL Playoffs Preview
While most series in the 2012 National Hockey League (NHL) Stanley Cup Playoffs have been about either offensive shooting power or others about mainly about goaltending abilities, the Los Angeles Kings and St. Louis Blues series is sure to be a mix of all
aspects of the game.
Los Angeles Kings and St. Louis Blues are some of the best teams in the league when it comes to talking about firepower and defensive capabilities. Kings and Blues have a well rounded team that can not only play extremely physical when needed but also make
the goalie work for his money.
Kings are set to make history by finally winning something and become one of the better known teams in the city of Los Angeles, always being overshadowed by franchises of other sports.
"It's been a long road for a lot of guys in here that have been in this organization and put in a lot of time and just coming together as a group and to finally take a -- this is just one step -- but to take a step in this playoff atmosphere is huge for
this team," Kings’ captain Dustin Brown said. "I'm just proud of this group."
What St. Louis Blues will need coming into Game 1 of the new series will be needing to keep their head in the game and not get to tangled up with useless things like rankings and what they could have done. Playing in the moment will be the best approach
for them instead of chalking out a long term strategy.
"We play the right way, the way we have to play to win," Blues’ coach, Ken Hitchcock, said. "And everybody is on that same page, and almost afraid to get off it. I think having to rely on each other kept the stress and pressure away.”
St. Louis might not have the superstar line-up like Los Angeles does consisting of Mike Richards and Jeff Carter and Jonathan Quick, Blues are a much more sober team when it comes to playing hockey and they hope to utilise that friendly factor.
Game 1 of the semi-finals will kick off on Saturday, April 28, 2012, at the Scottrade Center in Saint Louis, Missouri, at 7:30 PM ET.
Prediction
St. Louis Blues will take the match 5-3.
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