Kings’ Dream Season Really Begins

King left wing Craig Johnson used to dream of playing in the Stanley Cup playoffs when he was a kid growing up in Minnesota. He would play in his family’s basement or backyard, imagining himself making a dramatic play to help his team win.

Johnson’s dream is hardly unusual, but how many hockey players get to see it come true.

“That’s what makes playing in the playoffs so great, because you have a chance to accomplish one of your dreams,” said Johnson, who has played in only one playoff game in four NHL seasons. “I think everybody on our team probably [has dreamed] of making a play to win a [playoff] series.”

Tonight, Johnson and many of his teammates will get their first real taste of postseason hockey in Game 1 of the Kings’ best-of-seven series against the St. Louis Blues at the Kiel Center.

Unfortunately for the Kings, who have only nine players with more than seven games of playoff experience, their opponents are playoff tested.

Led by goaltender Grant Fuhr, a five-time Stanley Cup winner with the Edmonton Oilers in the 1980s, the Blues have 13 players with at least 17 games of playoff experience. Of the 25 players on St. Louis’ roster, only four have never been in a playoff game, compared to nine for the Kings.

“We have to put our nervous energy to our benefit,” King Coach Larry Robinson said. “Everyone has a different feeling about the playoffs but the one constant thing for us is that everybody has a lot to prove.

“No one picked us to win during the regular season and no one is picking us to win the series now. We have a lot to prove.”

The Kings, though, are relishing their underdog role. Because of their 0-3-1 record against St. Louis this season, they’re hoping that the Blues are counting them out, just as most everyone else is.

“People see how we finished the season [with a 12-13 record since the Olympic break] and don’t think we have a chance,” said goaltender Stephane Fiset, who will start tonight. “Those guys in the media say we’re underdogs but in our minds we’re not. We don’t feel that way.”

The Kings may say that but unless they pick up their game and slow the Blues’ balanced scoring attack, it will be a short series, in St. Louis’ favor.

In the four meetings this season, St. Louis held the Kings without a goal in the first period and got on the scoreboard first. Even so, the Blues do not expect to see the same King team they have beaten twice since late February.

“In the first round, you have to be careful because that’s when most upsets happen,” said Fuhr, a former King. “The first game is even more important because it gives you a lot of momentum to build from.

“We want to get off to a good start because it’ll build our confidence and take some of theirs away. Just because we beat them all year long doesn’t mean anything come playoff time. Every team is equal. Whoever gets that first bit of momentum gets to carry it and ride it.”

Because each team is determined to shut down the other’s top scoring line, role players like Johnson and the Blues’ Craig Conroy could make the difference.

“When you get to the playoffs, it’s not your best people who win series, it’s your unsung heroes,” Robinson said. “Your muckers and grinders are the ones who will come up big for you. The guys you least expect are the ones who win games. The key to their success has definitely been their big guys, [Brett] Hull, [Pierre] Turgeon, [Chris] Pronger and [Al] MacInnis. But they are going to be watched closely. You have to look at other guys and they have a strong team with four good lines.”

During the regular season, the Kings’ top scorer, Jozef Stumpel, had two goals and five points against the Blues. But his linemates, Vladimir Tsyplakov and Glen Murray, combined for only one goal and two points going up against Conroy and his checking line.

Johnson says he and several other role players realize they will have to step up offensively.

“As far as my contribution for the series, I will do whatever it takes,” he said. “If I’m needed to play a checking role, I’ll play a checking role. If I’m needed to try and score goals, I’ll score goals.”

Johnson played with St. Louis before being involved in the Wayne Gretzky trade in 1996.

“In 1995, I got a brief taste of the playoffs with the Blues when I got to play one game,” he said. “But I felt like an outsider. It’s different now. I’m actually part of the team now and this is very special.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

(Best of seven)

* Thursday: at St. Louis, 4:30

* Saturday: at St. Louis, 4:30

* Monday: at Kings, 7:30

* April 29: at Kings, 7:30

* May 1: at St. Louis, 4:30-x

* May 3: at Kings, noon-x

* May 5: at St. Louis, 4:30-x

x-if necessary; all times Pacific