Kings douse Flames to clinch 3rd straight playoff berth
LOS ANGELES — Viktor Arvidsson scored two goals and the Los Angeles Kings clinched a playoff berth with a 4-1 victory over the Calgary Flames on Thursday night.
Kevin Fiala and Akil Thomas also scored in a workmanlike win for the Kings, who will be in the postseason for the third consecutive spring. Los Angeles lost to Edmonton in the first round in both of the previous trips, and a third straight matchup is possible with the Kings currently sitting third in the Pacific Division behind the second-place Oilers.
“(Making the playoffs) was our goal starting training camp, so one step at a time, and I think we did a good job in the regular season to get to this point,” Arvidsson said. “”I don’t think seeding matters in the playoffs, if I’m honest. I came in (with) Nashville. We were the last team in, the last game of the season, and we went to the (Stanley Cup) finals. I don’t think it matters. It depends on the group and how you tackle the games moving forward.”
Cam Talbot made 23 saves and captain Anze Kopitar had two assists as the Kings opened a four-game homestand to end the regular season under interim coach Jim Hiller. Los Angeles missed the chance to clinch by losing at Anaheim on Tuesday, but quickly got back into form by beating Calgary for its fourth win in five games.
“I think everybody should be proud of that,” Hiller said about the Kings’ playoff berth. “It’s a hard thing to do. And more importantly, it’s exciting because now you get to take the next step. You’ve earned the right to take the next step.”
Kopitar echoed Arvidsson’s thoughts about playoff seeding, saying it’s not as important as hitting the playoffs in a rhythm. In 2012, Kopitar and the Kings famously went 16-4 in the postseason and became the first No. 8 seed to win the Stanley Cup.
“Obviously it wasn’t an easy game (against Calgary), and with the game we showed in Anaheim, we weren’t very pleased,” Kopitar said. “So tonight was kind of a redemption. I thought for the most part, we did a pretty good job and essentially got the job done.”