The Los Angeles Kings return to the Stanley Cup playoffs with the task of attempting to repeat the success of last season when they won the championship. The road to the finals begins on Tuesday as the Kings and the St. Louis Blues meet up for their opening series. The Kings swept the Blues out of the 2012 Playoffs and hope to do the same this year. The Blues have not beaten in the Kings in at least nine games. They will look to break that streak with this opening series.
The Kings lost back-to-back games on the road during the final week of the regular season, losing the home-ice advantage. They barely escaped having to meet Vancouver in the opening round of the playoffs. Losing home-ice is not a concern for the Kings. The team did not have it last season and things worked out well for them, becoming the first No. 8 seed to win the Stanley Cup. As the No. 5 seed this season, they will garner a little more respect. Jonathan Quick won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Playoff MVP, but has been more or less hot and cold this season, going 18-13 with a 2.45 goals-against average. The Kings hope he can find his form like last season.
The Blue finished out the regular season winning 12 of their last 15 games. They won their last six at home to wrap up the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference and hope to continue to home-momentum into Tuesday night. St. Louis will be seeking revenge after they entered last season at the No. 2 seed and were swept by the Kings. Goalie Brian Elliott is playing the best hockey of his career, going 11-2 in April, allowing only one goal in 10 attempts. He will play a large part in the success of the Blues.
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