LA Kings... What's going on here?

Going into the 2012 playoffs not many people expected the Los Angeles Kings to be where they are now.  After beating the Coyotes for a second straight game, the Kings are now 2-0 in their 3rd round match up vs. the Coyotes.  The Kings knocked off the top 2 seeds as an 8th seed in the Western Conference and with the last 2 games against the 'Yotes in the books the Kings have a 10-1 record in the playoffs.  They are also a perfect 7-0 on the road.  For many sports fans and for many hockey fans for the matter, the King's dominance right now is a complete suprise.  But really for any one that follows hockey closely, it should be no suprise at all. 

Going into the 2011-2012 season the Kings were considered by many as a top contender in the Western Conference.  With the additions of Mike Richards and Simon Gagne the Kings looked poised for a deep playoff run.  However the regular season was very turbulent and it took up until the last week in the season for the Kings to lock up the last playoff spot.  After two major changes (a coaching change and trading Jack Johnson for Jeff Carter) the Kings looked like a tough out but not really a contender to knock off the vaunted Vancouver Canucks much less the devilish St. Louis Blues.

Really though if you look at this team, there should be no suprises why they are where they are at.  The Kings have the perfect recipe for winning a cup, great goaltending, depth throughout the lineup, solid penalty killing, and a disciplined and defensive minded style of play.  This team has talent but guys like Dustin Penner and Justin Williams didn't play up to their capabilities during the regular season, they along with captain Dustin Brown (who is playing like a man possessed) have taken their games to the next level.  The Kings powerplay is starting to click.  They are big throughout the lineup, especially up front, and guys like Kyle Clifford and Dwight King are creating a nightmare for opposing defensemen on thier forchecking.  The Kings have a very talented core of superstars in goaltender Jonathan Quick, centers Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, and Anze Kopitar, and defenseman Drew Doughty. 

This team is the perfect playoff team, they are a nightmare to play against, and they are right now my top pick to win the Stanley Cup.