Here’s the second of five takeaways from the Kings’ victory Monday over the St. Louis Blues, and don’t worry there are giveaways to follow:

It’s no shock that the Kings are at their best when they play a physical style and mix it up along the boards and in front of the net. That’s how they transformed themselves from a middling team during the regular season into Stanley Cup champions by June. They dominated the middle of the ice while beating the Blues on Monday, scoring all four of their goals from the front of the net or several feet away from it. Jeff Carter had two point-blank goals and Davis Drewiske and Jarret Stoll scored from the slot. The Blues simply couldn’t handle the Kings in those high-target areas. The Kings should save the DVD and play it again and again and again. It’s hard work to score those kinds of goals night after night, but it’s a winning formula for the Kings.