3 ways the Kings flipped the script on the Blackhawks
At this time last year, the Chicago Blackhawks pulled to within a win of the Stanley Cup Final, skating to a 3-1 series advantage similar to the one they currently find themselves trailing.
Invariably, the venues, teams, coaches, fans, and vastly differing social media approaches remain, but the Los Angeles Kings have completely flipped the script on the defending Stanley Cup champions - and then some.
Since Game 1, the Kings' 15 goals are more than Chicago mustered in last season's entire five-game series, their power play is firing at a 50 percent clip, and of their regularly-featured players, only three have yet to register a point.
Here are three reasons why the advantage belongs to Los Angeles this time 'round.
UhhAttrition?
The Kings were valiant in their attempt to repeat as Stanley Cup champions last season, but much of their undoing was the result of injury. Jarret Stoll and Mike Richards combined to lose nine man games due to concussion. Drew Doughty cracked his ankle before he could the scoresheet. Dustin Brown and Anze Kopitar both played through knee injuries. Justin Williams' shoulder separated.
Despite requiring two seven-game series to earn the rematch, each of those key players featured in every postseason game thus far. Protected by their depth and ability to roll four lines, Robyn Regehr, a bottom-pairing blue liner, remains the only shelved King.
Draft aids
Stan Bowman did a tremendous job keeping the talented core he inherited in-house, but the same can't be said about a half decades' worth of evaluating prospects.
Since 2010, Chicago's five first-round picks - Kevin Hayes, Mark McNeill, Phillip Danault, Teuvo Teravainen and Ryan Hartman - logged three total NHL games - combined.
Interestingly, Hayes and Teravainen totaled 32 points in their respective draft years, while Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson, who were each drafted at lesser seeding, combined for 170 points ahead of their respective drafts and are now playing vital roles for Los Angeles.
Keeping the cupboard stocked
While it's difficult to take credit from the Kings, much of their success can be attributed to what Chicago didn't do.
After losing the likes of Dave Bolland, Michael Frolik and Viktor Stalberg, Chicago's most high-profile addition to its Stanley Cup defense was a homecoming Kris Versteeg. Conversely, Dean Lombardi trumped his counterpart's efforts in one fell swoop, acquiring the postseason's leading goal-scorer, Marian Gaborik, at the trade deadline.