The Calgary Flames closed out their season on a high note, delivering a spirited 3-1 victory over the playoff-bound Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night. The win provided a bright spot for the Flames, who finished the campaign with a 34-39-9 record.

The story of the night was rookie goaltender Arsenii Sergeev, who was stellar in his first NHL start, turning aside 27 shots. The game remained deadlocked until the third period when top prospect Zayne Parekh broke the tie, securing the win for Calgary. Morgan Frost opened the scoring on a power play, and Joel Farabee sealed the deal with an empty-net goal, his 20th of the season.

For the Kings, the night was about looking ahead. They clinched the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference during the game, setting up a first-round showdown with the NHL's regular-season champion, the Colorado Avalanche. Game 1 is set for Sunday in Denver. Anze Kopitar played in his final regular-season contest, cementing his legacy with the seventh-most career points (1,316) by a European-born and trained player, trailing only legends like Jaromir Jagr.

While the Kings prepare for the postseason grind, the Flames head into the offseason with momentum and a glimpse of their promising future, exemplified by the performances of Sergeev and Parekh.