The Kings of Los Angeles obtained help from a division rival to reserve a place in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Thanks to the 3-2 victory in extra time of the Vegas Golden Knights over Calgary’s flames, the Kings officially hit their ticket to the postseason for the fourth consecutive season.
In the previous three years, the Kings were expelled by the Edmonton Oilers in the Round 1. Very well they could have an opportunity for redemption this season.
The Kings are seconds in the Pacific Division, four points in third place oilers. If the classification is maintained, the Kings and the Oilers would coincide in the first round for the fourth time in so many years.
The Kings are the fifth team that remains in the West, since Winnipeg’s jets, the stars of Dallas, Colorado Avalanche and Golden Knights also have literas.
The ray entered the day with multiple paths to ensure a position, with one of them if the New York Rangers did not defeat demons in regulation.
Thanks to the 4-0 victory of the Devils, Lightning entered before losing in a shooting against the Buffalo Sabres at night.
It is the eighth consecutive year, Tampa Bay has reached the playoffs and 11 in 12 seasons.
The team won consecutive titles of the Stanley Cup in 2020 and 2021 and reached a third consecutive final in 2022, but lost to the avalanche of Colorado.
The Panthers also got help.
The Queenrs of the Stanley Cup reserved their ticket when the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Columbus Blue Jackets. That result, along with the loss of the Rangers, pushed Florida, despite the loss of the Panthers before Ottawa earlier in the day.
Panthers are third in the Atlantic division, two points behind Tampa Bay Lightning and four ahead of Ottawa.
In the east, the hurricanes of Maple Leafs, Washington Capitals and Carolina are also sure of playoff places.
