Sergeev makes 27 saves, Flames edge Kings

Los Angeles finishes in second wild-card spot, will play Colorado in first round

Apr. 17, 2026 at 4:05am

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An abstract, energetic painting in vibrant neon colors, with indistinct hockey player figures blending into the dynamic brushstrokes, conveying the intense action and emotion of the game.The Flames' narrow victory over the Kings showcases the raw passion and athleticism of professional hockey in a season finale filled with playoff implications.Los Angeles Today

The Calgary Flames defeated the Los Angeles Kings 3-1 in their final regular-season game. Morgan Frost, Zayne Parekh, and Joel Farabee scored for the Flames, while Quinton Byfield scored the lone goal for the Kings. Flames goaltender Sergeev made 27 saves in the win.

Why it matters

The Kings finished the regular season in the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference and will face the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Flames, who missed the playoffs, got a strong performance from their goaltender Sergeev in the season finale.

The details

Despite outshooting the Flames 10-2 in the first period, the Kings were unable to beat Sergeev, who made a key paddle save to stop a shot by Trevor Moore. Frost scored a power-play goal in the second period to give the Flames a 1-0 lead, but Byfield tied the game shortly after. Parekh scored the go-ahead goal for the Flames in the third period, and Farabee added an empty-net goal to seal the 3-1 victory.

  • The Kings finished the regular season with a 35-27-20 record.
  • Anze Kopitar played his final regular-season game for the Kings.
  • The Flames finished the season with a 34-39-9 record and missed the playoffs.

The players

Sergeev

The Flames goaltender who made 27 saves in the win.

Quinton Byfield

The Kings forward who scored their lone goal in the game.

Anze Kopitar

The Kings forward who played his final regular-season game, finishing his career with 452 goals and 864 assists for 1,316 points in 1,520 NHL games.

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What they’re saying

“Despite outshooting the Flames 10-2 in the first period, the Kings weren't able to beat Sergeev, whose best save came at 10:23 when he reached behind to make a paddle save to stop a shot by Trevor Moore.”

— Laurence Heinen, Author

What’s next

The Kings will face the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the strong goaltending performance by Sergeev, who helped the Flames end their season on a high note, while the Kings secured a playoff spot despite the loss. The retirement of Anze Kopitar, a Kings legend, also marked the end of an era for the franchise.