CALGARY, Alberta (AP) – Ok, who predicted this: The Calgary Flames are going to the playoffs while the Los Angeles Kings are heading home?
Yeah, sure.
Jiri Hudler scored twice and added an assist Thursday night as the Flames clinched their first playoff spot in six years with a 3-1 victory over the Kings.
The Kings saw their postseason aspirations end – the first time since the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006-07 that the defending Stanley Cup champions have failed to make the playoffs the following season.
“What an amazing feeling. After we scored that empty-netter, the building was electric,” said Hudler, whose 31st goal with 50 seconds left came with the raucous sell-out crowd of 19,289 already standing and giving Calgary a thunderous ovation.