The view from Calgary

CALGARY HERALD

Kristen Odland: Flames are going to the playoffs for the first time since 2009

“To have their playoff-qualifying chances come down to the final home game of the regular season, against the defending Stanley Cup champions, whom they already have beat three times — all in exciting fashion — was too good to be true.

And, to boot, against old friend Darryl Sutter who was the Flames general manager the last time this team played meaningful spring hockey.’

CALGARY SUN

Randy Sportak: Calgary Flames heading to playoffs after beating the L.A. Kings

“And if seeing the rebuilding Flames snap their playoff drought at five seasons wasn’t shocking enough for the NHL, they also officially eliminated the defending Cup champs, a team which is built for playoff hockey, but just couldn’t find the form for another run under former Flames GM/head coach Darryl Sutter.”

Scott Mitchell: Kings head coach Darryl Sutter to cheer on former club in Stanley Cup playoffs

“Minutes earlier, his Los Angeles Kings had been eliminated from playoff contention by his former employer, but the Alberta-born bench boss gave the Calgary Flames head coach a handshake and a “congratulations.”

Eric Francis: Celebration time for Johnny Gaudreau and the Flames after post-season clinching win over the Los Angeles Kings

“Overcoming an eight-game losing skid, the loss of the team’s captain and leader, Mark Giordano, and defying extensive odds as a young, developing team, the Flames accomplished what only one analyst in hockey (TSN’s Aaron Ward) said they could: Live to play past April 11.”

LA TIMES

Lisa Dillman: Kings eliminated from playoff contention with 3-1 loss to Flames

“Kings defenseman Drew Doughty logged his usual impressive amount of ice time, playing nearly 30 minutes. He tried, at times, to take the game over and Calgary Coach Bob Hartley joked he didn’t know if Doughty came off the ice in the third period.”

Helene Elliott: Kings just don’t have enough depth to get into NHL playoffs

“During the Kings’ remarkable run of two Cup titles in three years — two more than their fans ever expected to see — and a run to the West final in between, they played 64 playoff games and sent a sizable delegation to the Sochi Olympics.”

OC REGISTER

Rich Hammond: Kings’ playoff hopes end with loss to Calgary Flames

“The Kings, not surprisingly, made an enormous late push, and outshot the Flames 26-10 in the second and third periods, but Hudler’s second goal, into an empty net with 50 seconds left, clinched the victory.”

TSN.CA

Scott Cullen: What happened to the Kings?

“The thing is, it’s not like the Kings collapsed. They were the league’s top possession club (getting 54.9% of score-adjusted shot attempts) and still have the 13th-best goal differential (+0.22 per game), which is better than three playoff teams (Anaheim, Detroit and Vancouver).”

FLAMES NATION

Ryan Pike: Post-Game: Mission Accomplished

“They didn’t get rattled when the Kings pressed…for basically the entire last 40 minutes of the game. They played a mature, measured game for the majority of it, and managed to once again be opportunistic when scoring chances presented themselves.”

SB Nation – MATCHSTICKS AND GASOLINE

Mike FAIL: Kings vs Flames – Burn their kingdom to the ground because we are playoffs bound.

“Mikael Backlund had a HUGE game in terms of small things on the ice. A strong offensive zone faceoff win allowed the Flames to kill time on the clock and help their situation. Mikael Backlund is everything you need in a capable centre minus the elite level offense.”

SB Nation – JEWELS FROM THE CROWN

Eric K.: Kings @ Flames Recap: LA Loses 3-1, Eliminated from Playoff Contention

“Matt Greene took a high stick from Flames center Mikael Backlund midway through the first, and the results were not pretty (bloody photo). The referees didn’t see it, and Greene went straight to the locker room. In the six minutes he was off the ice, the Flames scored twice. Some things are out of a hockey team’s control.”