• Press Box Perspective: Murphy's Law of playoff predictions

The last time a team similar to this Kings team got into the playoffs for the first time in a while with many players who’d never played a game in the playoffs, they didn’t even make it to 6 games. The Penguins lost a very disappointing 5 game series to the Senators. The picture of Crosby upset in the locker room seemed to be everywhere. A lot of people say you need to learn how to lose the playoffs before you can win them. When Helene Elliott asked Terry Murray’s thoughts on that, he said he agreed with the idea. The Penguins said the main thing they learned from that first playoff series for many of their players was that the playoffs are a lot of fun, but losing in the playoffs is a horrible experience. They made it to the Stanley Cup Finals the two years after that, winning the second year. If Kings fans could look forward to that outcome, I’m sure they’d be perfectly happy about their team not advancing this time.

• The Royal Half: This is far from over

Sure, it's been tough being a fan of the Los Angeles Kings the last 8 years (heck, the last 42 years.) But this 6 game playoff elimination at the hands of the Vancouver Canucks can only give fans of the Kings something to actually look forward to for once. This team… this franchise... has been rebuilt from top to bottom. After getting 101 points this season, the Kings can come back in the fall and be even better than before. But what really was the lesson learned from this past season? Simple… Playoff Hockey is amazing.

• LA Kings News: No Easy Road

Know this. Believe it. The storm has passed. While no one expects the road ahead to be an easy one, we know that for which we reach is now within our grasp. We step with resolve for we know that the day will soon come that the Kings will no longer only look to the future in the hope for greatness but greatness will be thrust upon them and among us.

• HockeyBuzz's Matthew Barry: Congratulations to the Vancouver Canucks

Quick then allowed the worst goal of his career at the wrong time. A slow moving puck by a guy wearing SEDIN in the back of his jersey... with just over 2 minutes left. Ugh. And for the 43rd consecutive time, Kings fans were left saying, "we'll get 'em next year".

• Examiner.com's Jon Moncrief: Tough loss ends terrific season for Kings and their fans

But a 4-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday at Staples Center cannot damage the season or the accomplishments of the team.  They achieved so much this season, and have so much to build on for next season.

• Jewels From the Crown: The End: Canucks 4, Kings 2

I still have this feeling of disbelief that the season has ended. I now understand why people argue to have the regular season shortened, but I wouldn't change it. The length and effort it takes to just get to the first round makes the heartbreak greater, which is madness but I wouldn 't have it any other way.

• Purple Crushed Velvet: Kings 2, Canucks 4: so that's how it ends

When the season started I wasn't sure they would be able to  make the playoffs. But after this season and this playoff series the Kings' future looks bright.

• The LA Kings Outsider: Not much to say

On the other end, Jonathan Quick did what I was afraid he might do.  The Kings rode Quicker into the ground and our playoff fate was sealed before the postseason even began. On the bright side... Who would've thought the Kings were a 100-point team going into this season.

• Rink Royalty: The bitter end

Another year of Kopitar, Doughty, Johnson, Quick, Simmonds, and the rest is only going to make this team better. We’ll see you next year to be sure, and we’ll be there to watch every game!

• Deep Inside the Kings: Anatomy of a choke job

With such an incredible year now behind them, it is such shame the Kings ended it the way they did. It was very reminiscent of the old Kings – of the loser Kings and their fans. I had high hopes and was very confident this team would – win or lose – make it very hard on the Canucks. But in the end, they shrunk to the challenge and withered away in the night.

• Inside Hockey's Brian Kennedy: Kings let it slip away

The Los Angeles Kings didn’t blow it Sunday night against the Vancouver Canucks.  At least, not if blowing it means disgracing yourself, not showing up for the game.  No, the home team did its darndest in a 4-2 loss to Vancouver, and the last goal they let in went into an empty net, so call it 3-2 with spare change.