The regular-season finale between the Calgary Flames and Los Angeles Kings might not have impacted playoff positions, but it became a night to remember for three young players who achieved a significant milestone in their careers.
The excitement began when Calgary Flames` newcomer Sam Morton netted his first NHL goal, marking his entry into the league in style.
Morton joined a swift offensive play with Ryan Lomberg and Dryden Hunt, capitalizing on a perfect passing sequence to secure his debut goal.
The celebrations continued shortly after as another Flames rookie, Zayne Parekh, also making his NHL debut, deflected a shot from Mikael Backlund past Kings` goaltender David Rittich. This goal marked Parekh`s first in the NHL, and at 19 years old, he became the sixth-youngest defenseman in NHL history to score in his debut game.
This rare feat of two teammates scoring in their NHL debut hadn`t occurred since 2003. It was also a historic first for the Flames franchise, witnessing two rookies achieve this in the same game.
However, the rookie scoring spree wasn`t over yet.
Los Angeles Kings forward Taylor Ward also joined the party in his NHL debut, scoring his team`s lone goal during a power play. Ward skillfully converted a rebound from a shot by Jordan Spence.
This remarkable game marked only the fourth time in NHL history that three different players scored their first NHL goals in their debut games, a phenomenon last seen in 2002.
Ultimately, Morton`s goal stood as the game-winning goal for the Flames.
Parekh was a first-round draft pick for the Flames in the 2024 NHL Draft, while Morton, who went undrafted, was signed as a free agent in March 2024. Morton gained experience in the AHL over the past two seasons, accumulating 25 goals and 52 points in 82 games. Parekh distinguished himself in the OHL, becoming one of the few defensemen, alongside the legendary Bobby Orr, to record multiple 30-goal seasons.
Tristan Blackwood