KINGS AT A GLANCE

* The Kings are in the playoffs for only the second time since going to the Stanley Cup finals in 1993 and got there with a quick start in October and a 5-1-3 finish. In between, they had a two-month period in which injuries mounted and they failed to win two games in a row. They added strength and experience at the trading deadline in the form of winger Kelly Buchberger.

* TOP LINE: Luc Robitaille-Bryan Smolinski-Glen Murray.

* TOP DEFENSIVE UNIT: Rob Blake-Mattias Norstrom.

* GOALTENDERS: Stephane Fiset, Jamie Storr.

* OTHER TOP PLAYERS: Ziggy Palffy, Jozef Stumpel, Sean O’Donnell, Garry Galley, Buchberger.

RED WINGS AT A GLANCE

* Detroit, a perennial Stanley Cup contender, gave St. Louis a run for the President’s Trophy, finishing six points behind the Blues. The Red Wings, like so many teams, struggled with injuries at midseason, but had the depth to handle that adversity. When they put Steve Yzerman, Sergei Fedorov and Brendan Shanahan on a power-play line, they are among the most feared offensive units in the NHL.

* TOP LINE: Tomas Holmstrom-Fedorov-Darren McCarty.

* TOP DEFENSIVE UNIT: Chris Chelios-Steve Duchesne.

* GOALTENDERS: Chris Osgood, Ken Wregget.

* OTHER TOP PLAYERS: Yzerman, Igor Larionov, Shanahan, Nicklas Lidstrom, Kris Draper.

MATCHUPS

* OFFENSE: The Kings will try to match the “stopper” line of Dan Bylsma, Buchberger and Bob Corkum against lines centered by Fedorov or Yzerman, but often will find those two on the same line. The Kings are more concerned about getting defensemen Blake and Norstrom on the ice against Detroit’s top scorers than in trying to match lines. The Red Wings will try to put Yzerman and Shanahan, who are top defensive forwards, against Palffy, Stumpel and Robitaille.

* DEFENSE: Keys for the Kings include dealing with Detroit defensemen Chelios and Lidstrom. And the Red Wings have been extremely Rob Blake-conscious all season.

* GOALIES: Fiset starts for the Kings and has some experience in the playoffs, but not all good. Osgood starts for Detroit and has a Stanley Cup ring.

* SPECIAL TEAMS: Detroit has the best power play in the NHL at 20.4% efficiency. The Kings were at 16.9%. Detroit killed penalties at an 85.9% rate, the Kings at 82.3%.

* COACHING: Detroit’s Scotty Bowman has won eight Stanley Cups. The Kings’ Andy Murray is in his first season as a head coach in the NHL.

* INTANGIBLES: The Kings were 2-2-1 against the Red Wings during the regular season, but have never played them in the playoffs. Detroit is eager to return to the Stanley Cup finals. The Kings have to earn playoff experience somewhere, but this is a tough way to do it.

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Kings (39-31-12-4) vs. Detroit Red Wings (48-24-10-2)

Best-of-seven series

4:30 p.m., Fox Sports Net