Ranford and Quick (photo courtesy of flickr)

Thanks to a game 7 overtime win by the Blackhawks over the Redwings last night, the Kings know that they’ll be heading for Chicago to start the NHL Western Conference final series on Saturday. And after their first practice before that series today in El Segundo, Kings goalie coach Bill Ranford called me to discuss what lies ahead after a much longer first two rounds for his guys than last year’s run to the Stanley Cup.

Of course it helps that Ranford is coaching the hottest goalie on the planet right now in Jonathan Quick but the Kings will also be facing an under-rated netminder in Chicago’s Corey Crawford. So may the best man win…but with plenty of help from their stars who haven’t always been each club’s best players throughout this post season and we’ll soon find out if that changes for either side.

Bill Ranford with Ted Sobel on the upcoming series: