NHL Playoffs: 3 Factors in the Blues/Kings Series

The Blues are advancing to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in 10 years. Coming into the series, they hadn't even won a playoff game in the past eight years. After dropping the first game to San Jose, the Blues stormed back to take the series by winning the next four.

The Kings, who were the underdogs of the Western Conference, upset the number-one seeded Canucks in five games. The Kings were led by their outstanding goaltender Jonathan Quick.

These two teams are almost mirror images of each other, which will make for a defensive series. If you were hoping for a Flyers/Penguins type series, you'd better go somewhere else.

I will be taking a look at the offensive, defensive and goaltending keys to the series.

Enjoy.

This majority of this series will not focus on the offense. The Blues and Kings both rank in the lower half in most offensive categories. The Kings were second to last in the league in scoring, and the Blues weren't that far ahead at 21st in the league.The teams won games with their defense and they will look to continue that in this series.

The power play will be key in this series; whoever can dominate with the extra attacker will have the edge in the series.Their power-play percentages were also almost identical in the regular season, with the Blues at 16.7-percent and the Kings slightly ahead at 16.9-percent. However, the Blues' power-play success in the postseason has jumped significantly to where the Blues are scoring on a third of all their chances. The Kings haven't been so lucky this postseason, only going 3-26 on power-play opportunities.

The key on offense will be the power play, considering almost half of the goals the Blues scored came on the power play. Whoever can be more physical and light the lamp on offense will have that edge in this series.

Offensive Edge - St. Louis Blues

"Offense sells tickets; Defense wins championships". - Bear Bryant

This might be the case for whoever comes away with the series victory. Defense has brought these two teams here and it's what will help one of them advance closer to the Cup. Both teams had the number one and two best goals-against per game average this season and that will be the key for this series.

During the postseason the Blues and Kings have had the lowest goals against average—both tied at 1.6 goals against. The Blues have some hard-nosed defenders like Barret Jackman and Roman Polak. If the Kings learned anything from watching the Blues play the Sharks, it's that you don't mess with Roman Polak. After Polak's fight with Justin Braun, Ken Hitchcock said, "You found out, don't open the Roman Polak door. Don't ever open that door."

The Kings defense only provided one goal the whole series, but they did their part in keeping the Canucks out of their goal. Drew Doughty and Rob Scuderi should get the most playing time out of the Kings defensemen during this series.

Defensive Edge - Blues

Brian Elliot and Jonathan Quick will be the Game One starters. Elliot came into goal after Halak suffered a lower body injury, and Elliot won every game he started.

Jonathan Quick, a Vezina Trophy finalist, will be on the other side. He dominated the Canucks, who were the highest scoring team in the West this year. He held them to just eight goals over that five-game stretch. Quick had the second best goals-against average this year, and he was behind his Game One opponent Brian Elliot.

Elliot has been the Blues backup this season, but you can hardly call him that. Elliot led the entire league this season in goals-against average and save percentage. With the combination of Halak and Elliot, the Blues have one of the best one-two punches in recent memory.

Goalie Edge - Los Angeles Kings

Jonathan Quick shut down the highest scoring team in the West and he has all the momentum. Quick will be tough to score on so the Blues need to cash in when they have the opportunity.

Blues and Kings will have a hard-fought series, but the Blues will walk away with the series win and advance to the Conference Finals and be that much closer to winning the Stanley Cup.

My Prediction - Blues will win the series in six games.