The LA Kings took a huge lead and beat Calgary 4-1 to clinch their 3rd straight playoff berth.

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Viktor Arvidsson scored twice and the Los Angeles Kings clinched a playoff berth with a 4-1 victory over the Calgary Flames on Thursday night.

Kevin Fiala and Akil Thomas also scored for the Kings in their third consecutive spring postseason win. Los Angeles has lost to Edmonton in the first round in both of its previous trips, and in what could be a third straight matchup, the Kings currently sit in third place in the Pacific Division behind the second-place Oilers.

Cam Talbot made 23 saves and captain Anze Kopitar had two assists as the Kings opened a four-game homestand to end the regular season under interim coach Jim Hiller. Los Angeles missed a chance to win in Anaheim on Tuesday, but rebounded quickly to beat Calgary for its fourth win in five games.

Jonathan Huberdeau scored in the third period for the Flames, who have lost nine of 11 as they end their postseason absence from the playoffs.

Jacob Markstrom stopped 26 shots for the Flames in a March 30 win over Los Angeles in Calgary.

The Kings scored 26 seconds into an early power play at their downtown arena when Fiala made a wrist shot through traffic for his 28th goal. The Swiss forward's 11th power play goal was also his 30th power play point of the season, making him the first Los Angeles player to reach the mark since 2010.

Arvidsson doubled the lead early in the second period, curling a sharp angled shot past Markstrom for his third goal of his injury-shortened season. The veteran forward played in just 15 games this season, until mid-February while recovering from back surgery, then missed another month with a lower-body injury.

Seven minutes later, Thomas scored, deftly deflecting a Matt Roy shot past Markstrom for his third goal in the last four games and the first of his career.

Thomas spent most of this season in the AHL, but the Kings' 2018 second-round pick has made an immediate impact since his NHL debut 10 days ago, possibly even playing a role in the postseason. Thomas is the first Kings skater to score three goals in his first five NHL games since Brian Boyle in 2008.

Arvidsson added an empty-net goal with 3:14 to play for his first multi-goal game since March 26, 2023.

NEXT UP

Flames: Friday at Anaheim.

Kings: Host Anaheim on Saturday.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL

Greg Beecham, Associated Press