Future's Bright: Calgary’s Young Guns Shine in 5–1 Win

In a game that held no playoff implications for Calgary, the Flames let their rookies take center stage—and they did not disappoint under the Hollywood lights.

With debuts on the line and NHL dreams in the making, the kids came to play.

Here are three key takeaways from the Flames' dominant season-ending win over the Kings:

1) Rookies Ignite the Third Period After Slow Start

It wasn’t exactly fireworks early on, as the Flames took a couple of periods to find their rhythm with a nearly all-new lineup. But when they clicked, they exploded.

Calgary generated eight scoring chances in the final period with just over five minutes remaining—more than they managed in either of the first two periods.

The standout storyline? The rookies.

In the sixth minute of the third, Sam Morton capped off a smooth 3-on-1 rush with a beautiful finish off a Ryan Lomberg feed, netting his first NHL goal. He even flirted with a second shortly after.

Zayne Parekh, meanwhile, showed exactly why he twice scored 33 goals in an OHL season—the most ever by a defenseman—by tipping in his own first NHL goal. He finished the night with a +3 rating, an Expected Goal (xG) value of 0.12, and a well-earned Second Star of the Game nod. Not bad for a debut.

It marked the first time since 2003 that two teammates scored in their NHL debuts. Ayder Suniev and Hunter Brzustewicz also impressed, each finishing with a +2 rating.

2) Special Teams: Room for Growth on the Power Play

The Flames went 0-for-2 on the power play, and while it’s hard to expect magic from a unit featuring mostly rookies, it’s still an area that’ll need sharpening in the offseason.

But on the flip side, the penalty kill has been rock solid. Despite allowing one goal in this finale, Calgary’s PK unit has gone 21-for-23 since March 26—a league-best stretch. A great sign of defensive grit to build on.

3) Dan Vladar Steps Up in Net

With Dustin Wolf finally getting a break after eight straight starts, Dan Vladar took over in net and delivered. He allowed just one goal despite facing chances worth 2.82 Expected Goals, sealing the win and finishing his season with 12 victories—just two shy of his career high from 2022–23.

A night that began with low expectations ended with something much more exciting: a glimpse into the Flames’ future. And if this is what’s to come, fans have plenty to look forward to.