The last time Tobias Rieder played in a playoff game, at any level, was for the Kitchener Rangers. Five years ago.
"My last year in junior [hockey]," Rieder said. "So it's been a while."
Adrian Kempe has played in minor league playoff games but, like Rieder and a handful of other Kings, has never experienced what's coming up. The next postseason game for them and Alex Iafallo will be their first in the NHL, and the same goes for defensemen Paul LaDue, Oscar Fantenberg and Kevin Gravel.
The intensity of playoff hockey is part of the sport's lore.