After single-handedly putting his team into the playoffs last spring and then following it up with one of the greatest goaltending performances in Stanley Cup Playoff history, there was something that slowed the Conn Smythe winner down: off-season back surgery. Now while any type of surgery is crucial, repairing the back stands above the fray as something that could literally derail one’s career no matter how versatile or phenomenal that athlete is. For Los Angeles Kings fans, the fear of the unknown was front-and-center.

Of course, if there was any solace from the NHL Lockout this past fall (and there was very little of it), the Los Angeles Kings knew that the time off would give Jonathan Quick more than enough time to recuperate from his surgery as he would have had to miss the first month of the regular season had it started on time. While the anger from the circumstances of the lockout intensified, Jonathan Quick was resting easy and not having to have been thrown into the fire which I’m sure satisfied Kings fans everywhere – even if they were infuriated at the lack of progress between the NHL and its players association.

May 8, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick (32) makes a save against the St. Louis Blues during overtime in game five of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scottrade Center. The Kings defeated the Blues 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

When the regular season did start, Jonathan Quick did not look like the Jonathan Quick of old. He was shaky, seemed rattled and was overall uncomfortable getting back into the swing of things. In all fairness, though, the team in front of him didn’t look much better.

With an abbreviated 48-game season, the pressure was enormous. The so-called experts as well as countless know-it-all fans were adamant that a slow start by a team would most likely guarantee missing the playoffs as there was a smaller window to get into the playoffs with the season being cut nearly in half.

Despite the negativity, however, the Kings eventually did turn things around and while Jonathan Quick still wasn’t putting up the numbers so many of us were used to seeing him put up, he was admittedly getting gradually better in between the pipes with each passing game, save a minor setback here and there. It also didn’t hurt that Quick was getting more support from backup Jonathan Bernier who seemed to make relief duty an art form assuming you can call relief duty such a thing.

The Los Angeles Kings redeemed themselves from their slow start to the season and finished fifth in the West. Heading into the playoffs, I was irritated at how the experts at TSN made their picks for their annual Playoff Fantasy Draft without choosing Jonathan Quick.

Despite his ho-hum regular season, he had been better down the stretch and I had the utmost faith that despite his off-season back surgery, he’d elevate his game in the playoffs. After all, he’s done it before.

Despite coughing up the OT-winning goal against the St. Louis Blues in Game 1 of their opening-round series, I knew Quick would rebound. He always did. After all, it was because of Quick’s dominant play that the Kings were able to get to overtime in the first place.

Despite falling behind 2-0 in their series to the Blues, the Kings rebounded and won four-straight to win the series and now await either the Anaheim Ducks or San Jose Sharks. But while guys like Jeff Carter, Anze Kopitar and even Dustin Penner stepped it up, Jonathan Quick was the cornerstone of Los Angeles’s opening-round success.

As for the goaltenders who were picked in TSN’s aforementioned fantasy draft, Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers has been good but not great. His team enters today’s game with the Washington Capitals on the brink of elimination. Speaking of the Caps, Braden Holtby is playing very well (and I’ll be the first to admit that I dismissed him as a viable fantasy pick). Chicago’s Corey Crawford (who experts didn’t take too seriously because of his past playoff performances) was dominant in his team’s opening-round defeat of the Minnesota Wild and Pittsburgh’s Marc-Andre Fleury allowed 14 goals in three games against the New York Islanders before being planted on the bench. His Penguins may be moving on but Fleury will now have to watch from the sidelines.

When I expressed my displeasure about Quick being snubbed in said fantasy draft, many disagreed with me (which is perfectly acceptable) but one fan went so far as to resort to a childish level suggesting that I hadn’t even watched the regular season not mentioning other things that I’m not inclined to repeat. I may not have watched every one of Quick’s performances during the season but I am very familiar with the playoff performances of some of the game’s greatest goaltenders who were so great because, like Quick, they had the ability to elevate their games at the most important times.

I don’t have to educate many on the careers of Patrick Roy, Martin Brodeur or even Eddie Belfour but remember these two names: Bernie Parent and Billy Smith. While both netminders were good, they weren’t great. Parent has a quickness unparalleled to any goaltender of his era. Plus, that white mask he wore made him look like something straight out of a horror movie which would scare the pants of any opposition.

Billy Smith was the grittiest of goaltenders. If players from the 70’s and 80’s had chips on their shoulders, Smith had a crater and that helped him (and his team) win on the biggest stage.

Neither Parent nor Smith put up spectacular regular-season numbers during their careers but both elevated their game in the playoffs and won consecutive Stanley Cups as a result. And just in case you’re wondering whether the NHL took notice to these netminders, they did as both, like Quick, won the Conn Smythe as playoff MVP – with Parent winning the award twice.

It’s also worth noting that neither Parent’s Philadelphia Flyers nor Smith’s New York Islanders had their championship runs ended quietly. While defending champions tend to get bounced in the opening round of the playoffs, both the Flyers and Islanders lost in the Stanley Cup Final where, in all fairness, they respectively lost to the Montreal Canadiens and Edmonton Oilers: arguably the two greatest teams in hockey history.

For their efforts, Bernie Parent and Billy Smith have their numbers hanging from the rafters of their team’s arenas respectively as well as induction into their sport’s ultimate shrine: the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Don’t worry – this isn’t a petition to say that Jonathan Quick should have his number retired or that he should be a lock for the Hall of Fame (yet!). This is to prove that besides earning an actual playoff berth, the regular season is essentially meaningless. If fans and “experts” truly care about the regular season, then they should watch the English Premiership because no one in their right mind gives a flying fig about the regular season on this side of the pond – and for good reason.

The Los Angeles Kings may only have won one playoff round so far but just with that, they’ve accomplished more than the previous three defending Stanley Cup champions and while it has been a collective effort, the team does have Jonathan Quick to thank.

Before the playoffs began, I said Jonathan Quick would pick up his game in the playoffs (like any great goaltender would) and despite the criticism against me, I was right. I’d say I don’t mean to sound arrogant but let’s face it: it’s not arrogance if you actually know what you’re talking about.

And with my voyage to Iceland (the long-time residence of the great Bobby Fischer) fast approaching, I feel it’s only appropriate to end this with two simple words:

Check. Mate.

Including last year’s playoffs, the Los Angeles Kings have won eight-straight against the St. Louis Blues with their last coming on February 3, 2012 when the silver-and-black lost 1-0 in the Gateway City. On paper, it’s exactly what the Kings want to see. But I don’t need to remind anyone that wins (or championships) are built on paper.

With the exception of a Boston/Ottawa makeup game today, the 2013 regular season is in the books and the playoff matchups in the Western Conference are set. As of Saturday morning, the Kings knew they were opening the postseason against one of three possible teams: the San Jose Sharks, Vancouver Canucks or the Blues.

Mar 28, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko (91) runs into Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick (32) after taking a shot during the second period at the Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

After the Blues won their finale against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday, they had clinched the conference’s fourth-seed and with that, the result of the late game between the Kings and Sharks was simple: the winner plays St. Louis and the loser plays third-seeded Vancouver.

After Los Angeles’ 3-2 win over San Jose on Saturday, it was set. The Kings were to travel to the Midwest to open the playoffs against the Blues who they not only swept in this year’s season series but also in last spring’s playoffs. But to a man, no one in the Kings’ locker room is taking this matchup lightly.

In three meetings this season, Los Angeles outscored St. Louis 14-7 winning all three times including two in Missouri (a 4-1 win on February 11 and most recently, a 4-2 win on March 28).

But the Blues enter the postseason winners of three straight and seven of their last ten outings. At 29-17-2, the Blues finished the regular season just a single point ahead of the fifth-place Kings and hope Los Angeles’ subpar 8-12-1 record away from Staples Center this season is just what they need to gain the upper hand. After all, St. Louis’ 15-8-1 record on home ice isn’t anything to take lightly.

Despite the outcome of the season series, the Kings and Blues have been fairly even overall. St. Louis’ 129 goals for this season is just slightly below Los Angeles’ total of 133. St. Louis was tied for fifth-overall this season is goals against with 115 but the Kings weren’t far behind having allowed only 118 tallies. St. Louis’ goal differential this season was +14 while Los Angeles did one better at +15.

While players like Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown haven`t been spectacular down the stretch, they`ve played well against the Blues this season. Each registered a pair of goals and an assist each while accumulating plus-minus ratings of +6 and +5 respectively. Jeff Carter scored twice against St. Louis this season as did Jake Muzzin who added an assist to his total while Justin Williams recorded three helpers and Drew Doughty registered two. In the aforementioned plus-minus category, a number of Kings weren’t far behind Brown and Kopitar’s totals. Williams was also a +5 against the Blues, Slava Voynov a +4 while Carter, Muzzin and Keaton Ellerby were all +3.

As for the Blues, against the Kings this season, Alex Pietrangelo and David Perron were the most productive this season recording three assists each. Rookie Vladimir Tarasenko added a pair of goals while Barret Jackman helped out with two assists. Unfortunately for the Blues, not one player on their roster finished on the positive side of the plus-minus category against the Kings this season.

In goal, there wasn’t much to write home about for the Blues and despite a setback, the Kings’ goaltending was right where it needed to be during the three meetings.

For St. Louis, as great as Brian Elliott has been down the stretch, he’s been anything but against the Kings.

Against Los Angeles, Elliott has posted a mediocre save percentage of just under .851 and a no-more-impressive 4.14 goals-against average, allowing five goals on the 31 total shots he faced. In his two appearances against Los Angeles this season, Elliott has a record of 0-1-0 which includes a relief appearance at Staples Center six weeks ago.

Elliott’s partner-in-crime, however, fared no better against the silver-and-black this season. Jaroslav Halak went 0-2-0 against the Kings this season posting a shoddy GAA of 4.55 and a forgettable save percentage of .842. Halak was also pulled in Los Angeles in early March.

As for their third netminder, St. Louis does have rookie Jake Allen but he has yet to play the Kings in his career much less having a playoff game under his belt. But it seems as though the most logical choice for the Blues is to go with the hot hand and Brian Elliott, despite his struggles against the Kings, fits that bill.

But outside of a disastrous start by Jonathan Bernier six weeks ago in Los Angeles, the Kings’ goaltending in the 2013 season series has been superior.

Despite having an up-and-down year after coming off back surgery in the off-season, Jonathan Quick found his groove against the Blues this season, racking up a 2-0-0 record with a spectacular 1.28 GAA in addition to a .871 save percentage which really isn’t anything to brag about but still and all. Even Jonathan Bernier had success against the Blues this season making 21 of 22 saves and a .955 save percentage in St. Louis in February. However, he was pulled early in Los Angeles just a couple weeks later after allowing three goals on eight shots. Of course, in the risk of sounding bias, Bernier did play the previous night (and admirably at that) so fatigue definitely played a factor.

On paper, the Los Angeles Kings definitely have the advantage heading into their first-round series with the St. Louis Blues. Of course if anyone were to discourage you from relying on what it says on paper, it would be the Kings who upset Vancouver in last year’s opening round despite being heavy underdogs. After all, with the likes of Kevin Shattenkirk, Chris Stewart and David Backes just to name a few, the Blues have the potential to break out of their slide against the Kings at any moment and since the playoffs are a whole new season, there’s no reason to believe that can’t happen this coming week. The Kings have swept the Blues in four-straight last spring but that was last spring. A lot can change over the course of the year and when the puck drops on this series, the recent history between these two clubs will be just what that: history.

Whether the series starts on Tuesday or Wednesday has yet to be determined but either way, the Kings and Blues should make for a well-balanced, competitive series.