What we learned from the Kings’ 3-0 victory over Calgary

What we learned from the Kings’ 3-0 victory over Calgary on Thursday:

+ The Kings didn’t put much weight on the fact that their triumph lifted them past the Ducks and back into first place in the Pacific division by one point. The Kings have five games left—including one against the Ducks, who have six remaining.

“I don’t think it really matters. There’s another week and a half before you finish up,” said ever-stoic goaltender Jonathan Quick, whose fifth shutout of the season left him in a tie for fourth in the league in that category. “We’ve still got a week and a half left and we’ve got to try and win some hockey games between now and then.”

+ Coach Darryl Sutter has become a California guy—at least when it comes to taking pride in the state’s hockey teams.

Asked about the significance of the Kings and Ducks qualifying for the playoffs this season, he noted that California’s NHL teams are three-for-three, since the San Jose Sharks made it, too.

“We go back and two of us didn’t make it last year,” Sutter said of the Kings and the Sharks. “There has been a lot made about the Canadian teams not making it but we played a team tonight that went to the second round. We should give our team some credit for getting in, instead of talking about divisions and things like that.”

+ The Kings aren’t happy with the caliber of their game, and with some reason. Jeff Carter said they gave up too many chances in the third period Thursday even though Calgary didn’t score, and left wing Milan Lucic agreed that they need to sharpen their overall play over the course of their final regular-season games.

“This is the best time of year. Heading into the playoffs, the last couple games, we’re trying to get our game up to that level that it needs to be at, to have success,” he said. “Key guys have to step up and play their game when things get tough and when things mean the most.”

+ Right wing Kris Versteeg has recovered enough from a foot injury to have participated in the warmups Thursday but he didn’t play. Sutter said before the game that Versteeg likely would not play. Versteeg has missed the last six games.

helene.elliott@latimes.com

Twitter: @helenenothelen