Vancouver or San Jose?
That’s the question facing the Kings after 82 games, the two brands of poison awaiting in the first round for a team that will finish either seventh or eighth in the Western Conference. Here are the scenarios following a season-ending, 3-1 loss to the Ducks:
If the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Detroit Red Wings today, the Kings are the eighth seed and play Vancouver.
If Chicago loses in overtime or a shootout, the Kings are the eighth seed and play Vancouver.
If Chicago loses in regulation, the Kings have the seventh seed and play San Jose.
The Kings went 2-2-0 against the Canucks – 1-1 at home, 1-1 on the road, winning the first two and losing the last two. They went 3-3-0 against the Sharks –1-2 on the road, 2-1 at home, and getting both home wins via shootouts.
Not that Terry Murray is crunching numbers just yet.
“I’m not watching the scoreboard right now,” the coach said. “It’s just disappointing we did not have the handle to take control of our own destiny the last couple games.”
The team expects to have its playoff schedule sometime after 7 p.m. tomorrow.
A few notes that won’t make tomorrow’s editions.
Continue reading “Ducks 3, Kings 1.” »