Why Los Angeles Kings will win the Semi-Final Series against St. Louis Blues –NHL Playoffs Special
Now, after Los Angeles has taken a 2-0 lead in the 2012 National Hockey League (NHL) Stanley Cup Western Conference Playoff Semi-Final series against St. Louis Blues, it is not a matter of why Kings will win the second round, but rather, the question is
when.
Blues have a franchise history of being 1-16 when their down 2-0 in a postseason series which makes their future in the semi-finals even more bleak. On an even more positive now, with Games 3 and 4 being at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Kings have everything
in their favour to take the series in whitewash elimination.
Nevertheless, St. Louis is still confident, but confidence is not the only thing that can get them back in the series. Blues need to improve in majority of their departments, including their well-known defensive strategies in order to take Los Angeles down.
What has worked for Los Angeles up until now is their approach to the game. Kings have been treating each game individually instead of focusing on a long term task and worrying about tomorrow. It was this strategy that allowed them to knock out 2011 Stanley
Cup finalists, the Vancouver Canucks, in just five games and now will eventually get them past the Blues.
"We've been treating each game as an individual game," said Kings’ winger, Dustin Penner, who has overcome his quarterfinal shyness to contribute in round-two. "I know it's cliche to say that, but it's a lot harder to do it and not look too far ahead. We've
just been playing every game as a one-game season."
Entering the series, St. Louis and Los Angeles were two of the most identical teams due to having a great defence, renowned goalies along with forward players who could get the scoring end of the job done with ease, but so far, Kings have just purely dominated
in all respects.
Limiting St. Louis’ close range shots has been another reason why Kings are flying back home with a smile on their faces along with pushing the Blues offence even further on their power play opportunities.
"You always want to do that," Kings’ centre, Anze Kopitar, said. "If you give up those outside shots, we're very confident in Jonathan that he's going to make those saves. I think everybody's defensive plan has that drawn up, where you want to push the other
team to the outside. All in all, I thought we did a pretty good job.”
Currently playing at an amazing pace, Los Angeles Kings should be able to oust St. Louis Blues in no more than five games, which would make them favourites from the West for sure.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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