NHL Playoffs 2012: 7 Reasons LA Kings Have to Be Confident of a Cup Victory

It's finals time in the 2012 NHL playoffs, and The Los Angeles Kings and their fans have seven reasons to be confident of a victory in the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Kings begin the Stanley Cup Finals on Wednesday versus the New Jersey Devils. The last time the Kings reached the Stanley Cup Finals was in 1993 when they lost 4-1 to the Toronto Maple Leafs. That team was led by Wayne Gretzky and coach Barry Melrose. In 2012 the Cinderella story that is the Los Angeles Kings are primed to win the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals.   

Unlike the team from 1993, the 2012 Los Angeles Kings have seven reasons why they will defeat the New Jersey Devils and raise Lord Stanley's Cup. 

7. Daryl Sutter Is Pushing All the Right Buttons

Darryl Sutter took over the underachieving Los Angeles Kings on December 22 for previous coach Terry Murray. The Los Angeles Kings needed a spark to save their season and since his arrival in Los Angeles, Sutter has revitalized the Kings playoffs hopes. The hard-nosed approach to every game and compose in every situation resonated in the locker room improving the Los Angeles Kings chemistry.

Bringing in a veteran coach like Darryl Sutter who had not coached a team in five years was questionable to many fans in Los Angeles. Sutter proved the doubters wrong and sparked the Los Angeles Kings to a tremendous winning stretch to solidify their spot in the 2012 NHL Playoffs. 

The Los Angeles Kings finished the season winning nine of their last 14 games, including a grueling six game stretch against playoff contenders, like Detroit, Nashville, Chicago, San Jose and St. Louis. That winning streak gave the Kings confidence in themselves something which was lacking under previous head coach Terry Murray. 

Sutter brought playoff experience to the Los Angeles Kings using his experience from the 2004 Stanley Cup Final trip to instill confidence and swagger to this years team. The Los Angeles Kings lost two games in a row to end the season costing them the Pacific Division title to the Phoenix Coyotes. Darryl Sutter however did not let this lapse affect his team instead implemented a drill sergeant mentality and aggressive defensive game plan to give the Los Angeles Kings confidence and the skill to defeat any team in the 2012 NHL playoffs.  

6. Los Angeles Kings Are No Longer Underdogs

Not even the most die-hard Los Angeles Kings fan could have seen this postseason run in their wildest dreams. The Los Angeles Kings have ridden the eighth seed from a Cinderella story to the Stanley Cup Finals favorite in the matter of one month. 

The Los Angeles Kings have acquired tremendous amount of momentum by defeating the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 seeds in a strong Western Conference. During the 2012 NHL Playoffs the Los Angeles Kings only needed 14 games to reach the Stanley Cup Finals, ranking them tied for the least amount of games ever since the modern adoption of a seven game series in 1987.   

All that being said the Los Angeles Kings have now entered championship territory in a city that prides itself on titles. In a year full of Los Angeles sports accomplishments the Los Angeles Kings remain as the last team left fighting for a championship after the Clippers were sent packing with the Lakers followed suit. The Los Angeles Kings now will be playing for the city of Los Angeles as they battle the New Jersey Devils for the 2012 Stanley Cup Championship.  

5. Five Is the Key for Special Teams

When the Los Angeles Kings are on the penalty kill this postseason they have stepped up their game. The Kings have only allowed five power-play goals in 57 opportunities, placing their 91.2 power-play kill second in the league this postseason only trailing the St. Louis Blues. 

Another outcome that has resulted from the Kings' playing numerous penalty kill minutes has been timely short-handed goals. Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown and Matt Greene have combined to score five short-handed goals, adding an extra dimension to the Kings' game. 

These five short-handed goals by the Los Angeles Kings lead all teams this postseason and have drastically shifted the momentum in multiple games during their run to the Stanley Cup Finals. The Los Angeles Kings penalty kill unit will remain sharp leading to the Kings victory in the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals. 

4. All Four Lines Contributing

Every night someone different is stepping up for the Los Angeles Kings. Whether the first line led by Dustin Brown, the second led by Mike Richards, the third led by Jarrett Stoll or even the fourth line led by Colin Fraser, every group has made an impact.

The front line has been dominant with Dustin Brown, Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams leading the way. Brown and Kopitar have led the NHL this postseason with a 13 plus-minus rating speaking to their dominance on the ice leading to goals and positive play for the Kings. Add to the fact that all three men on the first line have nine assists, making this unit is not only a scoring threat but a dominate line willing to keep other players involved.  

The second and third lines have played above expectations this postseason by scoring clutch goals for the Kings in the 2012 NHL playoffs. When the Los Angeles Kings needed big overtime goals to clinch series, Jarret Stoll and Dustin Penner answered the bell scoring huge goals to defeat the Vancouver Canucks and the Phoenix Coyotes respectively.

Let's not forget the play of rookie Dwight King who has scored five goals this postseason. His play has been greatly under appreciated speaking to the depth of the Kings roster. Winger Jeff Carter has meshed with the Kings offense perfectly during the 2012 NHL Playoffs adding another threat to the already potent Los Angeles Kings attack. Carter stepped up this postseason by adding a hat trick against Phoenix in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. 

The Kings have balance and will need to continue to receive contributions from every line. If all four lines continue to play to their potential, the Los Angeles Kings will win the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals. 

3. Captain Dustin Brown

Captain Dustin Brown is attempting to do what ex-captain Wayne Gretzky could not in 1993: lead the Los Angeles Kings to a Stanley Cup Title. Brown is a key contributor to the first unit, scoring seven goals and adding nine assists. Not only is Brown scoring, but he is embodying the physical force the Kings needed during the 2012 NHL Playoffs. This can be seen with the huge hits Brown has laid on Vancouver's Henrik Sedin and Phoenix's Michal Rozsival.

Captain Dustin Brown has used his physical play and sudden offensive prowess to take control of the team. Brown's contributions and solid leadership should make Los Angeles Kings confident in their ability to win the first Stanley Cup Finals in Kings history.   

2. Jonathan Quick

No player has been more vital to the Los Angeles Kings than Jonathan Quick. Throughout this postseason, Quick has been dominant, going 12-2 with a 1.54 goals against average. The Kings' defense has been stifling this postseason, and it all stems from the butterfly approach of Jonathan Quick.

Jonathan Quick is playing amazing and should be considered for the Conn Smythe Trophy, which is awarded to the postseason's best player. The Los Angeles Kings will ride the glove of Jonathan Quick all the way to Lord Stanley's Cup. 

1. Road Warriors

In Game 5 in Phoenix, the Kings had just come off a disappointing loss, 2-0, and needed to win to end the series. The game went into overtime and Dustin Penner scored the game-winning goal, giving the Kings a 4-3 victory to clinch their trip to the Stanley Cup Finals. 

The excited Kings fan in the photo among the anguished and disappointed Coyotes faithfuls has all the reason to believe his team can once again win a clinching game on the road and send the New Jersey Devils packing for the summer. This postseason the Kings are a perfect 8-0 on the road and will need to continue that hot streak against New Jersey.

The No. 8-seeded Kings are once again beginning a series on the road and will win the Stanley Cup because they have shown the ability to take away home-court advantage. If a Game 7 would be necessary, the Kings have all the tools to beat New Jersey and give Los Angeles its first Stanley Cup.