Mike Richards is hoping that the Kings can improve on their 1-2 record in the 2012 playoffs after the team has taken a 3-0 series lead. "We haven't really been very good in these situations," said Richards on Tuesday. "We're 1-2 when we're up in these situations. It's something we have to improve on obviously and we still know we can play better and be better." Los Angeles is the first team in NHL history to take a 3-0 lead in all four rounds since the league adopted its best-of-seven format for each postseason round. Richards has proven to be a valuable addition to the Kings during their playoff run with 12 points in 17 games.

Although the Los Angeles Kings have a 2-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup finals, they'll be trying to play better in Game 3 on Monday. "We know the Devils are going to improve, and we have to improve," Mike Richards said. That was the goal and mindset right from day one in training camp, to get better every game. We have to do that and carry the energy that's going to be in Staples Center. It's probably one of the loudest rinks I've ever played in. I think everybody here is excited. Even though we got in late last night, you could feel the energy around the building, the dressing room. Tomorrow is going to be no different." The Kings have gone up 3-0 in all of their previous three series. They have a stunning 14-2 record in the postseason.

Mike Richards says he and Jeff Carter were mad for being dealt by Philadelphia. Richards and Carter were both first-round picks of the Flyers in 2003, both were rookies in the post-lockout 2005-06 campaign and both helped lead the Flyers to the Cup round in the spring of 2010. They were also traded last summer. Richards says they had not experienced what it was like to be dealt and it was not a pleasant feeling.

Mike Richards will face his old OHL coach Peter DeBoer in the Stanley Cup Final. Deboer coached Richards when both were with the Kitchener Rangers, as they won the Memorial Cup in 2003, Richard's draft year. Both are still friends but the friendship will be on hold for the next couple of weeks as both attempt to get their names etched on Lord Stanley's Cup for the first time. Richards is trying to add the Stanley Cup to his resume which has seen him also win Gold at the Olympics and a World Junior Championship. If he wins it, he will only be missing a World Championship title as Scott Niedermeyer is the only player to have won all five thus far.

Mike Richards snapped a five-game goalless drought with his fourth goal of the playoffs in Tuesday's 4-3 overtime win over Phoenix. The Los Angeles center has registered 11 points in 14 postseason contests, which has complemented top pivot Anze Kopitar, who has 15 points, very well. The Kings will look for more of the same from their top two centers in the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Kings duo of Mike Richards and Jeff Carter are not complacent with the Kings up 3-0 in the best-of-seven Western Conference final. That is due to the fact that both were members of the 2010 Philadelphia Flyers, the last of three playoff teams to win a round after being down 3-0. "We have to guard against complacency and taking the situation for granted," Richards said. "We know the opportunity we have as a team. To do this on home ice would be something we would want, but that doesn't mean it's going to be easy." For the record, the other two teams were the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs and the 1975 New York Islanders.

Mike Richards had two goals and five points in the Kings' four-game sweep of the St. Louis Blues. Richards has endured something of a hot-and-cold season, but he was a big factor in the second round. The big question now is if he can keep that up in the Western Conference Finals. He had a goal and four points in six games against Phoenix this season.

Mike Richards power play goal broke a 0-30 streak for the Kings in the post-season. With the Kings up three games to none, the only thing not working for the team was their power play which had gone five games without a goal going back to Game 2 of the Vancouver series. But that went out the window with the goal by Richards halfway through the second period which turned out to be the game winner. Richards now has three goals and eight points in the playoffs and if you took him, you are being rewarded handsomely. By the way, with the first period fight against the Blues Jamie Langenbrunner, Richards ended the game with a Gordie Howe hat trick.

Mike Richards had a goal and an assist in the Kings' 5-2 victory over St. Louis in Game 2 of their Western Conference semi-final series. Richards set the tone with a goal 31 seconds into the contest. The center had all three of his shots on goal in the first 7:08 and also made his presence known physically. Richards, who is 2-4-6 in the postseason, was 14-of-26 in the circle for a team-best 56 percent.

The Los Angeles Kings are concerned about their power play which has been held scoreless in the last two games of the playoffs. While the Kings have been outstanding on the penalty kill as they have given up two goals in 17 chances while scoring twice themselves shorthanded, they did not score on the power play during both games in Los Angeles. "Our power play has to score," Mike Richards said. "They got two, we got zero [in Game 4]. That's the difference in the hockey game. But other than that, Xs and O's go out the window when you know a team this well. Specialty teams usually have that impact." The Kings need Richards and Jeff Carter to get going again and a power play goal in Game 5 Sunday will certainly help.