2012 NHL Playoffs: 4 Key Takeaways for the Los Angeles Kings Following Game 3

Sunday night, on the treacherous ice of Staples Center (80-plus degree weather and a mid-day Lakers game went into overtime), the Kings took a commanding 3-0 series lead over the league's regular season best Vancouver Canucks.

The Kings now own complete control of the series and sit just a single game away from a historic playoff series victory.

It wasn't the prettiest victory, but nonetheless it was a victory. There is still work to be done to close out the series, and the series-winning game will most certainly be the toughest to win. 

Here are a few takeaways for the Kings from the monumental Game 3 victory.

The Good Teams Find a Way to Win

The Kings were not at their best. By far.

The Canucks dominated the game. After the second period, the Kings were 0-for-6 on the power play with five shots, and had just 11 overall. The Canucks logged offensive zone minutes with cycle after cycle and shift after shift of pressure.

But the Kings won. They were outplayed and they won.

And isn't the old mantra that the good teams find a way to win even when they aren't playing well?

Earlier in the year the Kings were finding ways to lose games, and tonight, when it mattered, they found a way to win.  

Every Night Quick Is in Net the Kings Will Have a Chance

There were a lot of questions, and rightfully so, about the composure of Jonathan Quick in the playoffs.

Up until these past three games, Quick did not have very good playoff numbers, and was the loser in two six-game series that were not bookmarked for their fantastic defensive battles. His numbers floated somewhere just north of .900 save percentage and around 3.00 goals-against average.

But Quick has silenced many critics. And tonight was an exclamation point. A 41-save shutout has put his team in command.

Quick is ready, and the team can rely on him to do great things even when they play poorly. Every night Quick is in net, the Kings have a chance to win.

Play Your Game and You Will Be Rewarded

If there is a message Sutter should be reiterating in the locker room to the troops after tonight, it's: "Look what happens when we stick to our game."

Granted he probably would admit the Kings didn't quite play their game tonight, but they have stayed away from the gamesmanship the Canucks have brought to the table.

There has been lots of diving, chirping, snowing of goaltenders and after the play jabs by the Canucks this series. Hey, that's hockey. But the Kings have avoided the mind games, and more importantly, avoided the penalties.

Vancouver has buried themselves in many ways in this series. The Kings have kept focused and stayed on their game, while Vancouver has gone out of their way to shake off the ghosts of the Boston series in the wrong ways.

Dustin Brown Is a TRUE Captain

A few days ago, after Dustin Brown's phenomenal Game 2 performance, I wrote an article about how the Kings have to be happy that they didn't trade their captain.

And he rose to the occasion again tonight.

The Kings got one goal, and it came off the stick of the captain, Brown. The young captain was also responsible for delivering a scary but clean hit on Henrik Sedin, which left the Canucks captain dazed and grasping for the bench.

He is hitting, scoring and leading his team. You ask your captains to be leaders on the ice and off the ice. In the games that matter—down the stretch and in the playoffs—Brown has time and time again answered the bell.

Brown is showing he is a true captain, and the team can be confident in that.