Blackhawks enter playoffs with 4-game losing streak

LOS ANGELES --Drew Doughty scored 27 seconds into overtime to give the Los Angeles Kings a 3-2 win against the Chicago Blackhawks at Staples Center on Saturday.
Chicago (50-23-9), the Central Division champion which lost its season-high fourth straight game to end its regular season, will play the wild-card Nashville Predators in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which begin Wednesday. The schedule will be announced Sunday.

Dustin Brown and Tyler Toffoli scored for the Kings, Anze Kopitar and Jeff Carter each had three assists, and Jonathan Quick made 25 saves for Los Angeles, which ends its season Sunday at the Anaheim Ducks.
WATCH: All Blackhawks vs. Kings highlights
The Kings (39-35-7) were eliminated from playoff contention Sunday, but coach Darryl Sutter credited veterans Brown, Doughty, Kopitar, Carter and Quick for their performance.
"I think it says something about the leadership of our team," Sutter said.
Brown, the longest tenured member of the Kings in his 13th season, tied the game at 2-2 with 55 seconds left in the third period after taking a pass from Kopitar when he charged toward the left post. Doughty then scored the game-winner off a pass from Carter on a 2-on-1.
Jonathan Toews and Artemi Panarin scored for the Blackhawks, Duncan Keith had two assists, and Corey Crawford made 23 saves.

"The real season begins," Toews said. "Obviously, we want to see what we're made of, and I think we're all pretty confident what we're able to do.
The Kings tied the game at 1-1 on their second power play of the game in the third period on a goal by Toffoli. After a flurry of shots in the Chicago zone, Kopitar slid a pass to Toffoli inside the blue line. He scored his 16th goal of the season on a slap shot at 4:52.
Panarin scored his 31st goal of the season from the bottom of the left faceoff circle at 13:53 of the third for a 2-1 lead.
The Blackhawks took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Toews at 6:25 of the first period. It was his 21st of the season.

Goal of the game

The first scoring play started with a giveaway by Kings defenseman Jake Muzzin in his zone. Toews gave up the puck to Nick Schmaltz and quickly got it back, taking it behind the Los Angeles net before coming out the other side and spinning and shooting near the right faceoff circle. The puck hit Quick in the chest before going across the goal line.

Save of the game

The Kings were trailing 2-1 when Schmaltz shot from the slot at Quick, who lifted his left arm to make the save but lost track of the puck when it dropped in the crease. Doughty pushed the puck into Quick with the side of his glove at 12:49 of the third.

Highlight of the game

Broadcaster Bob Miller called his last home game after 44 seasons with the Kings. The crowd gave Miller a standing ovation and held "Thank You Bob" signs. Brown tied the game in the final minute, giving Miller the chance to announce one final win at Staples Center when Doughty scored.

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Unsung performance of the game

Chicago defenseman Brent Seabrook matched his season high with seven blocked shots and a Blackhawks-high 22:10 of ice time.

They said it

"That energy, that ambition, that motivation is back. We have that feeling again that every single moment, every single game matters." -- Chicago forward Jonathan Toews on the playoffs
"We had a lot of guys that were probably a little intimidated by the Blackhawks, which tells you why they're a first-place team and we're not playing [in the playoffs.]" -- Kings coach Darryl Sutter

Need to know

Joel Quenneville coached his 700th game with the Blackhawks (413-204-83). ... The 109 points by Chicago are second-most in its history (2009-10; 112). … Toews has 10 points (four goals, six assists) in his past 13 games. ... Panarin has eight points (seven goals, one assist) in his past seven games. ... The three assists matched an NHL career high for Carter. ... Kopitar has four assists in his past five games. ... The Blackhawks came in with three goals on their past 27 power plays (11.1 percent) and finished 0-for-3 with the man-advantage.

What's next

Blackhawks: Game 1 of Western Conference First Round against Nashville Predators, TBD
Kings: At the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday (8:30 p.m. ET; SN1, PRIME, FS-W, NHL.TV)