While it didn't have much of an impact on the standings in the West in the Pacific Division this spring this regular season down the stretch for the postseason in the playoffs, the Los Angeles Kings (35-27-20) still fell short of the Calgary Flames (34-39-9) on Thursday night (April 16) on the road north of the border in Alberta at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
Los Angeles Kings end the regular season finale with a 3-1 loss in the third period to Calgary in the Pacific Division on Thursday night
The Anaheim Ducks needed a late comeback in the final frame in the third period yesterday to beat the Nashville Predators in the West in the standings this regular season down the stretch to claim the third spot in the Pacific Division standings for the postseason in the playoffs. When the Ducks and Edmonton Oilers beat their respective opponents in the Pacific Division in the West yesterday on the ice and on the scoreboard, it didn't matter what happened for the Kings vs. the Flames in Calgary on the road.
In the final regular season game in the league in the NHL in the West for center captain Anze Kopitar for the Kings yesterday in the Pacific Division vs. the Flames, it was bittersweet to see him celebrated one more time this spring this regular season in the 2025-26 campaign for his career.
"It’s been an absolute pleasure to coach him. The professionalism, his effort, day in, day out, never putting himself bigger than the team. Even when there were stretches, probably this year, where he didn’t play as much as he’d like, he just takes it in stride. I think, just for myself anyways, I thank him for that professionalism and what he’s probably set up for these kids going forward. "DJ Smith on Anze Kopitar
This means that the Kings won't face Connor McDavid and the Oilers in the Pacific Division in the postseason in the playoffs for a half-decade in terms of years in a row in the West this spring.
Here are the takeaways from the Kings' disappointing 3-1 loss on the road in the regular season finale north of the border on April 16 vs. the Flames in the Pacific Division.
Quinton Byfield ends this regular season on a high note in the zone offensively
The Kings easily outplayed the Flames in the Pacific Division on both sides of the ice and offensively yesterday on the ice, including more shots on goal and scoring opportunities around the net. The special teams on the power play didn't help the Kings play a factor on the scoreboard yesterday vs. Calgary in the Pacific Division.
The game's only goal on the scoreboard for the Kings was scored by forward Quinton Byfield in the middle frame in the second period yesterday after a good start on the ice in the opening frame in the first period for LA against a rookie goalie for the Flames. Byfield has scored at least one goal and one point on the stat sheet in the last three consecutive road games in the Pacific Division in the West for the Kings this regular season down the stretch this spring.
I have no doubt in my mind that Byfield is red-hot scoring the puck offensively in the zone this regular season down the stretch and going into this upcoming postseason in the playoffs for the core forward lines group up front for Smith and the Kings' coaching staff.
Disappointing loss doesn't matter much since the Kings face Colorado in Round 1 in the West this postseason in the playoffs
The Ducks and the Oilers winning on the scoreboard yesterday in the Pacific Division in the West means that the Kings will face the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the postseason this spring in the playoffs this upcoming weekend and in the next upcoming couple of weeks in the Mile High City.
At least with the Kings losing to the Flames in the final frame in the third period in clutch time yesterday, it didn't matter if Smith's team had won on the scoreboard in the Pacific Division vs. Calgary on the road.
"Today with social media and phones, everyone knew after two. For us, I don’t think it matters. Whoever we were going to play, we’d be the underdog and coming from the back. We’re playing well. We know there’s going to be spurts where they’re going to be really, really good but we’re going to have to look at it and manage those times. We’ve got some guys playing well here as well. So, we’re going to find out. "Smith
Kopitar and the Kings offensively will face the Avalanche in Round 1 of this upcoming postseason in the playoffs this upcoming weekend on Sunday (April 19) afternoon in the Western Conference in Game 1 this spring.
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