The L.A Kings playoff dominance is UNPRECEDENTED

The 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs haven’t been very dramatic and the primary reason has been the utter dominance of the LA. Kings. Typically, Stanley Cup winners face a great deal of adversity on their way towards hoisting the Cup, but the Kings haven’t faced a shred of adversity since narrowly qualifying for the post season. A quick look at the numbers demonstrates the Kings have breezed through the playoffs with unbelievable ease.

Los Angeles is the first eighth seed in NHL history to eliminate the top three seeds of a Conference in a single playoff run. Not only that, they lost a grand total of two games to Vancouver, St. Louis, and Phoenix combined.

Through game two of the 2012 Stanley Cup finals, the Kings have an overall record of 14-2, and they are a perfect 10-0 on the road.

The Kings dominance can be attributed to their team defence which is yet to allow more than three goals in a single game these playoffs.

Jonathan Quick has allowed two or less goals in 14 of the Kings 16 playoff games. Perhaps even more impressively, L.A has held their opponents to a single goal or a shutout in eight of their 16 games.

When you consider the fact that Los Angeles limped into the playoffs after losing their last two regular season games, their post season success is truly unprecedented.

Look at how the Kings have fared round by round against every other Cup winner since the lockout in 2005.

CUP WINNERS SINCE THE LOCKOUT:

2005-2006, Carolina Hurricanes:
Regular season: Finished 2nd in the East with 112 points

First round: DEF. Montreal in 6 games. Carolina lost the first two games at home and then Peter Laviolette replaced Martin Gerber with Cam Ward.

Second round: DEF. New Jery in 5 games

Third round: DEF. Buffalo in 7 games. Carolina scored 3 goals in the third period to beat a Sabres team missing 3 of their top defensemen.

Cup Finals: DEF. Edmonton in 7 games. Edmonton lost their starting goalie Dwayne Roloson in game 1.

Total games to win Cup: 25

Total goals allowed in Playoffs: 60

2006-2007, Anaheim Ducks:
Regular season: Finished 2nd in the West with 110 points

First round: DEF. Minnesota in 5 games

Second round: DEF. Vancouver in 5 games

Third round: DEF. Detroit in 6 games

Cup Finals: DEF. Ottawa in 5 games

Total games to win Cup: 21 games

Total goals allowed in playoffs: 45

2007-2008, Detroit Red Wings
Regular season: Won the President’s trophy with 115 points.

First round: DEF. Nashville in 6 games

Second round: DEF. Colorado in 4 games

Third round: DEF. Dallas in 6 games

Cup Finals: DEF. Pittsburgh in 6 games

Total games to win Cup: 22 games

Total goals allowed in playoffs: 41

2008-2009, Pittsburgh Penguins
Regular season: 4th seed in the East. They had a record of 27-25-5 under Michel Therrien who was promptly fired. Once Dan Bylsma took over they went 18-3-4 to end the year. Finished with 99 points.

First round: DEF. Philadelphia in 6 games

Second round: DEF. Washington in 7 games. Won game 7 in Washington.

Third round: DEF. Carolina in 4 games

Cup Finals: DEF. Detroit in 7 games

Total games to win Cup: 24 games

Total goals allowed in playoffs: 64

2009-2010, Chicago Blackhawks
Regular season: Finished with 112 points and the 2nd seed in the West

First round: DEF. Nashville in 6 games

Second round: DEF. Vancouver in 6 games

Third round: DEF. San Jose in 4 games

Cup Finals: DEF. Philadelphia in 6 games

Total games to win Cup: 22 games

Total goals allowed in playoffs: 62

2010-2011, Boston Bruins
Regular season: Finished with 103 points, 3rd seed in the East

First round: DEF. Montreal in 7 games. Boston lost the first two games on home ice, and 3 of their 4 wins came in OT, including game 7.

Second round: DEF. Philadelphia in 4 games

Third round: DEF. Tampa Bay in 7 games

Cup Final: DEF. Vancouver in 7 games

Total games to win Cup: 25 games

Total goals allowed in playoffs: Despite Tim Thomas’ Conn Smythe performance, the Bruins allowed 53 goals.

HOW ABOUT THE KINGS?

Regular season: Finished 8th in the West with 95 points

First round: DEF. the two-time President’s trophy winning Vancouver Canucks in 5 games.

Second round: DEF. St. Louis in 4 games. The Blues had the best home record in the NHL at 30-6-5 during the regular season.

Third round: DEF. Phoenix in 5 games. L.A allowed just 8 goals in 5 games.

Cup Finals: So far they have remained perfect on the road winning the first two games in New Jersey and allowing just two goals in the process.

Total goals allowed so far in playoffs: 22

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Since the lockout, it has taken the Stanley Cup winner an average of 23.2 games to hoist the Cup. In the unlikely scenario that the Kings and Devils go to seven games, Los Angeles will have played just 21.

Since the lockout, Stanley Cup winners have allowed an average of 54.2 goals en route to hoisting the Cup. Despite being just two wins away from the championship, the Kings have allowed just 22.

In previous years, the storyline of the post season has been superstar players battling for the Cup. Last season it was Zdeno Chara shutting down the Sedins. In 2010 it was Chicago’s young superstars dismantling the Canucks and Sharks en route to beating the Flyers. Prior to that, the NHL had a dream matchup as Sidney Crosby and the Penguins battled Pavel Datsyuk and the Detroit Red Wings.

There has been no such drama in the 2012 playoffs. This year the playoffs will be remembered for the complete and utter dominance of the Los Angeles Kings.