When taking a look at the four teams remaining in the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs, it’s not hard to see that the Western Conference is favored to produce the NHL’s next champion. The Chicago Blackhawks and the Los Angeles Kings would both be the inevitable favorite to lift Lord Stanley’s mug should they reach the next round. The only unfortunate situation for both teams is that they need to get past one another first. Here are five keys to the Western Conference final between the Blackhawks and the Kings.

5. The Battle Between Two Stanley Cup Champion Goaltenders

Goaltending means everything in the playoffs and especially in this particular series. Both Jonathan Quick and Corey Crawford have had the luxury of lifting hockey’s greatest prize and both plan on doing it once again in 2014.  Both of these stellar goaltenders are going to put up career performances in this series, but only one can lead their team to the promised-land. The margin between the two is going to be minuscule at the most, but whoever comes out on top in regards to overall performance will find themselves playing for the cup.

4. Dustin Brown’s Overall Leadership

We all know that the Blackhawks are lead by none other than ‘Captain Serious’, a player who is second to none when it comes down to his ability to lead by example. This has to put an immense amount of pressure on Brown, a Stanley Cup champion in his own right, but not quite a player that belongs in the same conversation as the Blackhawk’s captain. If Brown wants a chance to win the Stanley Cup for a second time in just three years, he will have to not only be vocal in his leadership style, but he will also have to take matters into his own hands and lead by great example.

3. The Kings’ Ability To Contain Jonathan Toews

Toews is arguably the best hockey player in the entire NHL. Sure, he has his moments where he is invisible on the ice, but when it comes to his ability to play at the highest of levels when it matters most, he is second to none in that department. Toews was more than impressive in game one of the Western Conference finals, scoring one goal and finishing +1 with three shots on goal. If the Kings want to have a realistic chance at getting past the defending champions, they are going to have to not only put a halt to the skill-set that Towes possesses, they will also have to get under his skin and take him down mentally.

2. Drew Doughty’s Offensive Abilities From The Point

The Kings’ best overall player didn’t just have 26:20 of ice-time in game one for his ability to help keep the puck away from his team’s end of the ice. Doughty plays more than a third of every playoff game because of the fact that he can also put the puck in the back of the opposing team’s net. Doughty is perhaps the best offensive defenseman that the entire NHL has seen since Al MacInnis. He may not have the slap shot that MacInnis had as part of his arsenal, but Doughty does have the ability to get himself on the score sheet. If the Kings want to make it to the next round of the playoffs, they are going to have to get some production from the point, and that starts with Doughty.

1. Duncan Keith’s Impactful Performance

There’s no argument when it comes down to who is the most talented defenseman in the NHL. The Blackhawks have the luxury of putting Brent Seabrook alongside Keith to help defend their portion of the ice on a nightly basis. Just like in the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games for Team Canada, Keith continues to rack up the minutes and make a positive impact for his team in the playoffs. In game one of this best-of-seven series, Keith was on the ice for an impressive 23:06. If Keith continues to play at a level that no other defenseman in the league is even close to, the Blackhawks shouldn’t have any problem defending the Stanley Cup. On the other hand, if the Kings figure out a way to get Keith off of his game, they will find their path towards the Stanley Cup finals becoming a lot easier than it was at the beginning of the series.