Arvidsson's two goals help Kings clinch playoff spot
The Kings are headed to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the third straight year after clinching a spot with Thursday night's 4-1 victory over the Calgary Flames at Crypto.com Arena.
They had the opportunity to seal up a postseason berth against the Ducks on Tuesday but stumbled 3-1, leaving their moment of relief for Game No. 79 of the 82-game campaign.
When they won the only Stanley Cups in the franchise's 57-year history, in 2012 and 2014, they clinched playoff berths in Games No. 81 and No. 77, respectively. In 2014, they had a similarly businesslike 4-0 win over the Arizona Coyotes to advance beyond the regular season.
Viktor Arvidsson doubled his goal total for the season with a pair on the night.
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Kevin Fiala and Akil Thomas also scored. Captain Anze Kopitar contributed two assists to the cause of goaltender Cam Talbot, who stopped 23 shots.
Jonathan Huberdeau tallied for Calgary and Jacob Markstrom made 26 saves.
The Kings got things rolling 6:48 into the game, winning an offensive-zone draw and summarily cashing in on the game's first power play. Adrian Kempe's onetimer from the right circle went wide where it was collected by Arvidsson. He settled the puck to dish it back to Kempe, who sent it to Kopitar,
who found Fiala atop the left circle for a laser he sent through Arvidsson's formidable screen, his 28th goal of the season.
Though Arvidsson factored significantly into that goal, he did not earn a point. Fifty-four seconds into the second period, he did better than picking up a point where he scored to make it 2-0. Another puck recovery, this time by Trevor Moore, initiated a brief cycle that culminated in Arvidsson ripping a short-side shot from just above the right dot.
At the 7:42 mark, the Kings effectively sewed up the game with yet another goal from Thomas, his third in five games and under 40 minutes of action since his NHL debut on April 1. After his initial shot attempt was blocked, Thomas stayed with the frenetic play and found quiet ice in the high slot, where he deflected Roy's shot inside the far post.
In the third period, Kempe nearly heaved a shot into the empty net following a flummoxed exchange between Markstrom and his mates, but defenseman Oliver Kylington prevented a goal with his shoulder.
Calgary earned the game's next goal when the newest Flame, Daniil Miromanov, had his shot redirected home by the highest-paid Calgary player, Huberdeau, as he fended off a check from Jordan Spence at 8:28
Flames winger Andrei Kuzmeno entered the match on a torrid scoring streak of six games, across which he'd compiled 11 points. It would be snapped Thursday and to compound matters for the sniper, his off-balance pass into the slot was intercepted by Arvidsson and shot into the empty net with 3:14 to play, clinching the game and a spot in the playoffs.
THE SCORE
KINGS 4, FLAMES 1
Up next: Ducks at Kings, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., BSW
SUMMARY
Calgary Kings
First Period:
1, Kings, Fiala 28 (Kempe, Kopitar), 6:48 (pp). Penalties: Miromanov, CGY (Closing Hand on the Puck), 6:22. Arvidsson, LA (Tripping), 7:20. Kempe, LA (High Sticking), 13:50. Pachal, CGY (Roughing), 13:50. Kempe, LA (Roughing), 13:50. Pachal, CGY (Interference), 13:50.
Second Period:
2, Kings, Arvidsson 3 (Danault, Moore), 0:54. 3, Kings, Thomas 3 (Roy), 7:42. Penalties: Calgary bench, served by Coronato (Too Many Men on the Ice), 9:54. Mangiapane, CGY (Roughing), 11:02.
Third Period:
4, Calgary, Huberdeau 12 (Zary, Miromanov), 8:28. 5, Kings, Arvidsson 4 (Kopitar, Doughty), 16:46 (en). Penalties: Weegar, CGY (High Sticking), 3:21.
Calgary 10-7-7: 24. Kings
Shots on goal:
8-13-9: 30.
Power-play opportunities:
1. Kings 1 of 4.
Calgary, Markstrom 23-22-2 (29 shots-26 saves). Kings, Talbot 26-19-6 (24-23).
17,340 (18,230). T: 2:24.
Trevor Hanson, Kendrick Nicholson. Linesmen: Ryan Gibbons, Tommy Hughes.
Goalies:
A: Referees: 0 1 0 2 1 — 1 1 — 4
Calgary 0 of