LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Kings blazed their way into the playoffs despite a 5-1 loss to the Calgary Flames in their final regular-season game. However, they still managed to find a silver lining, at least, as rookie Taylor Ward scored his first NHL goal in the game. Ward’s goal in the third period, assisted by Jordan Spence and Brandt Clarke, was a major highlight in the young forward’s career.
“It was a long road to get here tonight, and I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to come and play here in this building, for this team. It’s the best night of my life,” Ward told the media. “I wanted to score very badly; I was hoping I might get one a little earlier with all the chances I had.“
While the game didn’t end in their favor, it was a sweet moment for Ward and a highlight in a strong season for the Kings. The team finished with a franchise-record 31 home ice wins, showcasing one of the best performances seen in recent years. As they look ahead to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Kings have earned home ice advantage in the first round.
“We’re proud of the regular season we had, extremely proud, as an organization, as a city, as fans. We had some lousy times with the city this year, and hopefully, we provided some entertainment,” said Kings head coach Jim Hiller.
He acknowledged the effort put forth by the players, recognizing that despite the end of the regular season, the foundation has been laid for what’s next. “I thought we battled really hard, but it is over.”
This season, the Kings logged 48 wins and 105 points, tying franchise records last set in the 2016 and 1975 seasons. With this strong performance, they are well-prepared for a challenging first-round series against their long-time rivals, the Edmonton Oilers.
“At the end of the day, we’ve got to move on. It’s Game 1, and we’re excited,” Defenseman Jordan Spence said.
On Monday and Wednesday, the Kings will host the Oilers for Games 1 and 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena.
