NHL Playoffs 2012: 5 Key Takeaways for the LA Kings Following Game 1

Following back-to-back losses to end the regular season against Pacific Division rival San Jose Sharks, many expected the first round matchup against the Vancouver Canucks—winners of two straight President's Trophies—would be too much for the low-scoring Kings to handle.

After a 4-2 victory in Vancouver on Wednesday night, LA has effectively stolen home-ice advantage and momentum in this series against the regular season champions.

Here are five key takeaways for the Kings from Game 1 as they head into Game 2 against the Canucks.

1. The Power Play Was Good Enough

It wasn't great, and it certainly wasn't pretty. At times, it was downright ugly.

But it was good enough.

The Kings finished two of eight on the power play in this game, which included a five-minute major penalty to Vancouver's Byron Bitz.

They had some trouble entering the zone and generating any sustained pressure.

For the Kings, patience on the power play is key. While the Kings were sometimes held at the offensive blue line, when they did gain the zone they were able to hold it and move the puck around with some consistency. But too often this resulted in a wasted opportunity with no pucks on net. On a five-minute power play, even if it takes 4:59 to score, a goal is a goal. The Kings are good enough defensively to hold a one-goal lead.

Both goals scored on the power play came from simple plays—Mike Richards holding on Roberto Luongo's left until the goaltender opened up and simply throwing the puck on net, and a simple D-to-D play with Jarrett Stoll setting a perfect screen on Luongo, as Willie Mitchell flung the puck off a stick and into the top corner.

Moving on to Game 2, the Kings need to adhere to the coaching adage of keeping things simple on the power play. More pucks to the net with traffic in front. Challenge Luongo to make a save early and often.

That tactic brought them success in Game 1, and though Vancouver won't take eight penalties per game, the Kings will need to continue to take advantage of the opportunities they do get.

2. A Quick Start Can Put Vancouver on Their Heels

For all the changes Vancouver made after losing to the Bruins in Game 7 last year in the Stanley Cup Finals, in the first period the Canucks looked slow and passive.

A far cry from the offensive juggernaut they're supposed to be, it was the Kings who were the aggressors early on. They attacked relentlessly in the first 10 minutes and set the tone for the rest of the game with their physicality and tight neutral zone coverage, taking away the rush attack from Vancouver's speedy forwards.

If the Kings can successfully force Vancouver into playing the type of chip and chase game we saw in Game 1, they have a very good chance at upending the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.

Get Vancouver on their heels early or score a quick goal, and let Jonathan Quick and your defense do the rest.

Pressure is the name of the game, and since Vancouver is the 1 seed and is now down 1-0 on home ice, it's all on them. Keep it there.

3. Jonathan Quick Is Still Amazing

This wasn't really a question mark heading into this series. Quick finished the regular season with outstanding peripheral statistics (1.95 GAA and a .929 save percentage) and is a deserving Vezina candidate.

He was outstanding again on Wednesday in Vancouver. The only pucks that found their way past him were almost impossible to stop. One was off slight interference from Ryan Kesler, which was a good no-call but nonetheless put Quick off balance and prevented him from making the save. The other a puck was deflected high by his own defender. But he made some unbelievable acrobatic saves on Kesler and Alex Burrows in the second period to keep the game tied at 2-2.

Many speculated that Quick would have to steal a few games in order for LA to win this series. Quick was excellent, but this would hardly count as a game stolen by a hot goaltender. If LA can continue to play Vancouver the way they did in Game 1, Quick can certainly help carry them through to the next round.

4. Effective Checking of the Sedin Line

In 20 minutes of ice time, six of which came on the power play, Henrik Sedin didn't manage much offense against the Kings' staunch defense.

He recorded an assist on Burrows' opening goal, but for the most part the Kings were able to neutralize the Canucks' most lethal scorer.

They did so by aggressively forechecking when they had the chance as well as defending well in the neutral zone to take away time and space from the creative center who likes to generate offense on the rush.

Sedin isn't a one-trick pony, however, and he can be just as deadly on the cycle game in the offensive zone. But by standing up at their own blue line, the Kings forced the Canucks into a dump and chase type hockey game that didn't allow for prolonged cycles by the Canucks.

The Kings were able to dictate the way this hockey game was played, forcing the Canucks into a physical chip and chase game. That isn't how the Canucks have had success this season, and if the Kings can dictate the style of game that way consistently, they have a chance to pull off the upset.

5. Agitate and Frustrate the Canucks into Mistakes

The Canucks finished the night with 27 minutes of penalties.

By dictating the style of play from the opening face off, the Kings forced the Canucks out of their comfort zone and into making bad decisions with the puck and against the puck carrier.

This led to a wealth of opportunities for the Kings on the power play, where they were able to cash in twice.

The Canucks will certainly look to clean up their game for Game 2. While the Kings won't be able to draw as many penalties, they can still draw the Canucks into making poor decisions with the puck in their own zone.

Kings captain Dustin Brown effectively sealed the game after Alex Burrows mishandled a pass, as the Canucks were moving through the neutral zone with the net empty for an extra attacker. With less than a minute remaining, the Canucks had a chance to tie the game and send it into overtime if not for this mistake.

If the Kings are smart with how and when they employ neutral zone and forechecking pressure, they can force the Canucks into turnovers and counterattack with their mobile defensemen, such as Drew Doughty, joining the rush.