Kings and the Blues can not help but like each other

Kings and the Blues can not help but like each other

ST. LOUIS – Kings and Blues have been so civil to each other in preparation for the opener of their second round playoff series Saturday in St. Louis, it’s almost annoying

not playoff opponents should hate each other.? See the hostility between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers. Or between the Vancouver Canucks and where they play every year.

But there is no verbal jabs between the Kings and the Blues, is inflammation of the quotes incite war of words. Lots of praise and criticism.

“See some of their games against the Canucks. They play hard every shift, he has four lines that are willing to invest in the game,” Blues captain David Backes said the Kings. “It is clear, their goalkeeper coaching is also high.

” We want those types of games, one goal games are low scoring. That’s our style. Hopefully we can find ways to solve Jonathan Quick. He is a good goal tender. “

Blues coach Ken Hitchcock was so generous, that he declared the king’s best teams in the West, because they are removed from No. 1-seeded Canucks. But he was not generous enough to give Kings home-ice advantage with the top seed, so the series starts in St. Louis on Saturday and Monday before he moved to Los Angeles next Thursday and Sunday.

“When you turn the Presidents’ Trophy winner to become the No.1 seed. I think everyone knows that, “Hitchcock told the St. Louis.” We have to be on top of our game. I believe that if we are on top of our game, this is a great series and I’m really looking forward to it. “

may be a simple explanation for why the Kings and Blues Haven ‘t worked up to a mutual hatred .. They are so much alike, they almost have to respect each other

It is built on the same principles Everyone has an exceptional goalkeeper coaching – and the Blues Kings located 1 -2 team goals against average this season – defense, which blends a refined muscle and forwards, who are well trained in defensive

Do you know how much effort is required to play bruise, but a disciplined defensive game. are ready to make the entire team’s commitment to to a tight, low-scoring style brought them here, that kings hate the Blues -. or vice versa -. would be almost self-loathing

“I think the match is very similar teams,” Kings defenseman Willie Mitchell said. “They are both well-coached team. Both had some faster and in front of a given size. A good defensive teams. Great goalkeeping coaching. It looks in the mirror. “

similarities to expand their common beginnings and postseason futility.

colleagues in 1967-68 expansion, they are the only surviving” Second Six “teams, who have not won the Stanley Cup. Blues reached the final of each of their first three seasons, but swept always and never came back. Kings won the match with their lone Finals appearance in 1993, not until they have progressed past the second round.

This season, both teams coaching changes. Blues were 6-7 when they rejected the Davis Payne and brought experienced, the commander of Hitchcock. despite the loss of qualified players Andy McDonald, Alex Steen and David Perron as well as a concussion and a long, Hitchcock guided the Blues in the Central Division Title and the No. 2 seed.

Darryl Sutter succeeded Terry Murray behind the Kings’ bench in December, when the two Goal scoring was a game to celebrate. Sutter has developed players and instilled a matter of urgency, draw them out of early hole in the poor home performances during the playoffs on the last slide.

Kings center Colin Fraser, whose energy helped their fourth play an important role in Vancouver, sees many similarities between teams.

“So we were talking about how it will be a physical series, because they are a physical team, we are a physical team. Well the defending team. I think we were 1-2 league defensive numbers,” Fraser said.

“Of course you should not expect a high-score games. But they are not easy games. They will be very difficult. Who will win the battles against the walls and block shots. Little things are big in this series.”

courtesy of the likely ending opening faceoff on Saturday, but the similarities do not.

Helen e. Elliott@latimes.com

twitter.com / helenenothelen