The conclusion of the NHL’s regular season on Thursday night brought about last-minute twists in the Western Conference playoff matchups, resulting in two rematches from the previous year’s playoffs.
In a surprising turn, the Anaheim Ducks’ 4-1 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights pushed the latter into the final wild-card spot. This outcome set the stage for a rematch of last year’s Western Conference Final between the Golden Knights and the Dallas Stars. However, the final matchup was uncertain until the closing moments of the game between the Los Angeles Kings and the Chicago Blackhawks.
Despite initially holding a two-goal lead entering the third period, the Kings found themselves trailing 4-3 after Cam Talbot conceded three goals on four shots early in the frame. A loss in regulation would have sent the Kings to Dallas for their first-ever postseason encounter. However, Viktor Arvidsson’s power-play goal with 1:21 left in regulation forced overtime, securing a crucial point for the Kings and clinching third place in the Pacific Division. Consequently, the Kings are set to face the Edmonton Oilers in the first round, marking the third consecutive postseason meeting between the two teams.
The Western Conference playoffs are scheduled to commence on Saturday, with the complete schedule yet to be announced.
The night’s hockey action witnessed remarkable performances from teams lower in the conference standings, significantly influencing the postseason matchups. Frank Vatrano’s hat trick for Anaheim sealed a triumphant end to their season.
The upcoming clash between the Golden Knights and the Stars marks their third postseason encounter in five years. Notably, the Stars emerged victorious in 2020, advancing to the Stanley Cup Final, while the Golden Knights avenged their defeat last summer on their way to clinching the Cup. This matchup also marks the fourth postseason meeting between the Golden Knights and coach Pete DeBoer, who previously coached against Vegas in 2020.
In other already-set matchups, the Vancouver Canucks, despite a 4-2 defeat to the Winnipeg Jets, secured the Pacific Division title and will face the top wild-card team, the Nashville Predators. Meanwhile, the Jets will enjoy home ice advantage in their series against the Colorado Avalanche.
In the Eastern Conference, the first-round matchups were determined earlier, featuring the Florida Panthers versus the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Boston Bruins versus the Toronto Maple Leafs, the New York Rangers versus the Washington Capitals, and the Carolina Hurricanes versus the New York Islanders.
