Kings' Game 3 win awards for Blues fans

Kings' Game 3 win awards for Blues fans

Generations of Kings fans conditioned to expect playoff injuries, it was a sweet and happy occasion, all hopes are realized, and set aside all the fears of the old playoff ghosts to rest.

franchise whose crown postseason moments are so rare and so old they are classified as historical monuments, Kings ’4 -2 victory in St. Louis Blues on Thursday was a moment, an idea so logical, and impressive that it appears as a new standard, if it does not like so many other examples of attempts to kings are patterned in the spring.

Moving the wheel quickly and safely out of our zone, which has become their signature style to meet the Blues’ push push and push the Kings again on Thursday to move one victory to reach Western Conference finals, a place they’ve been only once before they are cursed postseason history.

They are without electricity illegally curved sticks and meltdowns to bring them down too well in coach Darryl Sutter, and too well-knit by their own efforts to become interferes with adversity to capitalize on the knees.

18 362 roaring audience at the Staples Center, so long accustomed to seeing the worst, but then the best this team has to offer, and it was such a stirring sight as it was standing on the ice.

“It is time we gave them the best” center Jarret Stoll said. “We have not been up to par to our standards at home for sure. We have played well and won a lot of games on the road, but to give them a good, solid, 60-minute effort that it was important to us.

” get standing ovation, the way they were cheering at the end, I had chills through the pile at the end. It means a lot to us here. We have a lot of pride and great respect for our fans. “

They could not be down to No. 1-seeded Vancouver Canucks in the first round, and they are a match away from putting the No. 2-seeded Blues in their rear view mirror, too. It is not too shabby.

” It’s not too shabby , “Stoll said cheerfully,” but it was the regular season, how those teams were ranked. We feel that we have a pretty good team here. When we play together and everyone is coming, and we are doing the right things with the right attitude, we feel we can beat anyone. “

And then they have to date.

Success has come from as many sources. Choose Sutter claim that they will bring the disc up the ice quickly, on the premise that the less time they spend in their area just as easily they were placed against . Since rookies Jordan Nolan, Dwight King and Slava Voynov infusion of this team was missing most of the season. example of Dustin Brown plays abuse, physical game that sets high bar, his teammates are so keen to answer.

And of course the goal tender Jonathan Quick , whose expertise is a beacon that led them through the darkest hours earlier this season. As individual pieces they might not seem so much more. general they are consistent and are only now beginning to realize their potential.

“Things are going well, because we’re working for right now, “said winger Justin Williams, who made the Kings’ first goal on Thursday.” Guys pay a price, will make every little thing that is important for the playoffs early. It includes boxing out, let the goalie see the puck, and not to let the other option to come, and of course the special teams again. “

They got their first power-play goals set by Mike Richards, to take 3-1 lead in mid-second season, and then added to a valid goal, Drew Doughty, through the explosion stunned by Brian Elliott, to give yourself room to breathe at 8:12 of the third. It all of the work, all meshing, all new and fresh, and a revelation.

“They beat us,” Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. “They were better. “

He is not the first person to say that the Kings. He probably is not the last.

helene.elliott @ latimes.com

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