Flames Take Out Kings, Will Face Canucks In Playoffs

Last night, the Calgary Flames beat the Los Angeles Kings 3-1 in a crucial game that has eliminated Los Angeles from playoff contention.

No one predicted the Flames would make it to the playoffs this year, making a trip to the postseason all the more satisfying for the youngsters. Calgary forward Jiri Hudler netted two goals and assisted Johnny Gaudreau on a goal as well.

“What an amazing feeling. After we scored that empty-netter, the building was electric,” Hudler said. Hudler put the empty netter away himself with 50 seconds remaining to clinch their first playoff berth since 2006.

“I’m very proud of them. We believed in training camp. We really believed,” said Calgary head coach Bob Hartley.

For the Kings, the heartbreaking loss puts their attempt to repeat as Champions to an end. The last time a defending Stanley Cup winner failed to make it to the post season was during the 2006-07 season when the Carolina Hurricanes were unable to make it to the post season.

“We played hard, Kings head coach Darryl Suter said. “I got no complaints with anything to do without team. I give the Calgary Flames lots of credit. Not I get to pull for them.”

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The Kings were outshot 15-8 in the first period, but came back to edge the Flames 12-4 in the second. Ultimately, they were unable to keep up the pace and couldn’t make up the damages already done.

“It’s a big disappointment for our group that expects to be in the playoffs. That’s not an expectation from outside, it’s an expectation from inside,” Kings captain Dustin Brown said.

The Flames will face division rival Vancouver Canucks in the first round of the playoffs. There’s been no determination whether the series will begin in Vancouver or Calgary. The Canucks are two points up on the Flames and end their regular season against the Edmonton Oilers. Calgary owns the tie breaker in head-to-head matchups.