LAS VEGAS — The Vegas Golden Knights were in control of their own destiny, but couldn’t deliver.

After a wild turn of events, they’re off to Dallas.

The Knights ended the regular season with a 4-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks at T-Mobile Arena on Thursday, and will begin their Stanley Cup title defense as the second wild card in the Western Conference.

The Los Angeles Kings squandered a 3-1 lead in the third period, but rallied to tie it with less than two minutes remaining and won 5-4 in overtime.

The earned point by the Kings means the Knights will open the first round against the Dallas Stars in a rematch of last season’s Western Conference final that the Knights won in six games.

Center Jack Eichel scored the lone goal, and the Knights (45-29-8) finished the season with 98 points. Goaltender Adin Hill made 19 saves in the loss.

It was the goaltender on the other side that made the difference.

Anaheim goalie Lukas Dostal made 32 saves to help the Ducks take three out of four in the season series against the Knights. Ducks forward Frank Vatrano scored a hat trick, and defenseman Jackson Lacombe broke a 1-1 tie 51 seconds into the third period.

Vatrano opened the scoring 4:25 into the second period, but Eichel tied it with his 31st goal of the season on the power play at 18:47.

The Ducks, with the third-fewest points in the Western Conference, were a young team playing for pride.

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