The Los Angeles Kings wrapped up their regular season matching franchise records for points and wins after a 5-1 loss to the Calgary Flames. Nazem Kadri scored twice for the Flames, with Sam Morton, Zayne Parekh, and Mikael Backlund also contributing goals. Taylor Ward scored the only goal for the Kings in his NHL debut, while Morton and Parekh also scored in their first NHL games.
Despite the loss, the Kings head into the first-round playoff series against the Edmonton Oilers as the hottest team in the Western Conference, winning eight of their last 10 games. The Flames, on the other hand, will miss the playoffs for the third consecutive season after a strong performance against the Kings. The game, originally scheduled for January 8 but postponed due to wildfires, also honored first responders.
The Kings rested key players like Adrian Kempe and Darcy Kuemper, giving opportunities to new talent like Taylor Ward, the first son of an NHL player to play for the team. The rescheduled game allowed for a memorable night despite the Kings' loss, capping off a successful regular season for the franchise.