LOS ANGELES -- "Honest" is the word every player on the Los Angeles Kings that was asked about their coach, Darryl Sutter, used to describe him. As in, he's kept the team honest or he's an honest coach.

Sutter, a former Blackhawks coach and winger, had turned the Kings around after taking over for the fired Terry Murray in December.

Sutter coached the Hawks for three seasons, stepping down in 1995 to devote more time to his family. He led the Hawks to the Western Conference finals in 1995. After that, the Hawks made the playoffs in just three of the next 12 seasons.

With an approach based on accountability and gruff straightforwardness, Sutter has inspired the Kings' stars -- notably Dustin Brown, Drew Doughty and Anze Kopitar -- and it's resulted in a 14-2 record this postseason.

Here's what the Kings are saying about him: