Ducks vs. Kings: Keys to the series for Los Angeles

Keys for the Kings to win the series against the Ducks:

1. DEPTH: Veteran defenseman Willie Mitchell, injured in Game 6 of the first round, probably will be unavailable for the early part of the second round. He has 77 games of playoff experience and is a valuable penalty-killer, elements difficult to replace in the lineup. Whoever is filling in must hold up against the high-scoring Ducks.

2. CUT PENALTY-KILLING: The Kings put on a clinic in the final three games of the first-round series against the Sharks, as San Jose went 0 for 16 with the man advantage. Kings center Anze Kopitar, though, stressed that far greater discipline will be necessary against the Ducks in terms of staying out of the penalty box.

3. CHAMPIONSHIP PEDIGREE: These teams have both been to the top, the Ducks in 2007 and the Kings in 2012. But it looked as though the Kings and goalie Jonathan Quick recaptured their 2012 form, an important psychological marker, showing renewed swagger in rallying from a 3-0 series deficit against the Sharks. The Kings need to ride their momentum.