In Los Angeles, the Kings blew a 3-1 third period lead over the visiting Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night.
They coughed up the lead and fell behind, 4-3. All on a night when then Vegas Golden Knights dropped a 4-1 to decision to the Anaheim Ducks.
Viktor Arvidsson scored a power play goal with 1:21 left on the regulation clock knot the game, 4-4, and force an extra session.
In extra time, Adrian Kempe scored off the opening face off and won it for LA with six seconds gone in the session for the 5-4 final, and third in the Pacific Division.
Kempe took the loose puck at center ice and skated down the right side and put a simple wrister on net.
LA now faces the Oilers in Edmonton to open the playoffs.
“It’s hard not to think about the whole picture, I guess,” Kings captain Anze Kopitar said. “I guess we kind of knew what the score was going out for the third period and all that stuff. Didn’t plan on going down one goal, but I guess we got the job done in the end, and we’re going back to Edmonton.”
Cam Talbot made nine saves in the win, Chicago had 13 shots on goal in total. That’s not going to cut it in Edmonton.
The Kings finished the season at 44-27-11.
“It’s always nice to end on a high note,” Kopitar said. “Sometimes you do have the ups and the downs within the game, not just within the season, so bounced back pretty well and got this one out of the way. And now it’s looking ahead and getting ready for a good series.”
Chicago jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a goal by Lukas Reichel at 15:39 of the opening stanza.
Arvidsson scored his first of a double at 4:37 of the middle frame for a 1-1 tie.
The Kings took a 2-1 lead off a power play marker from Quinton Byfield at 16:04.
“If he plays like he did tonight, he’s [going to] have a say in the series for sure,” Kopitar said of Byfield. “He’s been good all season. Yes, he’s had some down time the last few games, but he knows it. He knows what it takes. He’s been in a hard series last year, played a lot of minutes seeing the top matchups, and he knows. And I think this was a good indicator for him to see how he needs to play.”
LA took their 3-1 lead on a goal by Trevor Moore made at 17:24.
“You’re always playoff ready,” Kopitar said. “It’s the best time of the year. We’re going in, it’s a blank page, and we start writing on it.”
The Blackhawks closed their season out at 23-53-6 off their sixth straight loss.
“We have to change,” Chicago’s Nick Foligno said. “I want to change. We can’t go through this again. And I certainly won’t, and won’t allow it. Either the mindset changes from the group, or the personnel changes. That’s just the way it is in the NHL.”
Chicago’s Tyler Johnson closed the gap to 3-2 at 1:28 of the third period, scoring off a power play from the right circle. .
The Blackhawks tied the game, 3-3, on a goal by at 3:42.
Ryan Donato pushed the Hawks into a 4-3 lead on a strike at 6:28.
“I’m proud of the guys in the third period,” Chicago coach Luke Richardson said. “They really played well, and we talked about that going into the third period. We really got our legs moving and threw pucks at the net.”
Arvid Soderblom made 30 saves in the loss.
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