Calgary Flames (1980-Present)

Historical Moments:
1980/81: The NHL finally came to Canada's Old Western town of Calgary as the Flames moved into the old Calgary Corral, which once played home for Calgary's WHA team the Cowboys. The Flames played their first game in Cow-Town on October 9th battling the Quebec Nordiques to a 5-5- deadlock. Already a solid contender in Atlanta the Flames put together a solid 39-27-14 record finishing 3rd in the Patrick Division. After failing miserably in the postseason in Atlanta, winning just 2 games in 7 playoff series, the Calgary Flames won their first ever playoff series by sweeping the Chicago Black Hawks in 3 straight games. The Flames stayed red hot in the 2nd round jumping out to a 3-1 series lead over the Philadelphia Flyers. However, the Flyers would recover to win the next 2 to force a 7th game in Philadelphia. The Flames would recover winning Game 7 by a 4-1 score to reach the semifinals. However, the Flames would run out of gas in the semis as they fell to the Minnesota North Stars in 6 games.

1981/82: The Flames would attempt stronger their 2nd year in Calgary as they acquired Lanny McDonald from the Colorado Rockies, as the NHL realigned into geographical settings with Flames being placed in the Smythe Division with other Western teams, including the Edmonton Oilers. However, the Flames would struggle finishing in 3rd place with a disappointing record of 29-34-17. The Flames would be extinguished quickly in the playoffs, as they are swept by the Vancouver Canucks in 3 straight games.

1982/83: Despite 66 goals from Lanny McDonald the Flames continued to play mediocre hockey posting a record of 32-34-1, while playing in a Smythe Division dominated by their provincial rival Edmonton Oilers. In the playoffs the Flames would burn through the Vancouver Canucks in 4 games setting up a Division Final against the Oilers. However it would be no contest as the Flames were dominated by the Oilers falling in 5 games while allowing 35 goals.

1983/84: After 3 years in the old Corral the Flames got a beautiful new homestead as the Olympic Saddledome opened up in downtown Calgary, as the city prepare red to host the 1988 Winter Olympics. In their first season at the Saddledome the Flames finished in 2nd place with a 34-32-14 record. Once again the Flames would make quick work of the Vancouver Canucks winning in 4 games to set up a Division Final rematch with the Edmonton Oilers. This time the Flames would put up a fight forcing a 7th game after falling behind 3 games to 1. However, in the end the Oilers would prove to powerful as they took Game 7 by a 7-4 score.

1984/85: The Flames would put together a solid season finishing in 3rd place with a record of 41-27-12. However, their hopes of a playoff rematch with the Edmonton Oilers are dashed as they are beaten by the Winnipeg Jets in 4 games.

1985/86: Rookie defenseman Gary Suter has a terrific season capturing the Calder Trophy with 68 points as the Flames finish in 2nd place with a 40-31-9 record. In the playoffs the Flames would make quick work of the Winnipeg Jets sweeping them in 3 straight to set up a Smythe Division Final against the Edmonton Oilers, who were seeking the 3rd straight Stanley Cup. However things will be different this time as the Flames and Oilers alternated wins with the Fames pulling off the upset in 7 games with a 3-2 win in Edmonton to move on to the Campbell Conference Finals. The Flames would find themselves in another tough battle in the Conference Finals as the Flames alternated wins with the St. Louis Blues. Game 7 in Calgary was just as tight as the Flames emerged victorious with a 2-1 win setting up the first all Canadian Stanley Cup Final since expansion. The Flames would get off to a fast start in the Finals as they took Game 1 at home 5-2 against the Montreal Canadiens. However, the Habs would rally in Game 2 and win in overtime and would eventually go on to take the series in 5 games.

1986/87: Coming off their first trip to the Stanley Cup Finals the Flames continued to be one of the top teams in the NHL as they finished in 2nd place with a solid 46-31-3 record. However, in the first round of the playoffs they would be stunned by the Winnipeg Jets in 6 games.

1987/88: Calgary became the center of the sports world in February playing host to the Winter Olympics. The Saddledome would be one of the key venues meaning the Flames were forced to play most of the month on the road. However, it would have no negative effect on the team as they captured their first ever division title while winning the President's Trophy for the best record in the NHL at 48-23-9. In the playoffs the Flames would have no problem beating the Los Angeles Kings winning in 5 games while scoring 30 goals. However the true test would come in the Smythe Finals and the Flames would fail miserably as they are swept by the Edmonton Oilers in 4 straight games.

1988/89: The landscape of hickey suddenly changed in the off-season as the Edmonton Oilers traded Wayne Gretzky to the Los Angels Kings. The Flames would take full advantage capturing their second straight President's Trophy with a solid 54-17-9 record as Lanny McDonald was playing his final season seeking the Stanley Cup that had eluded him though out his stellar 16-year career. In the playoffs the Flames would be tested early as they pushed to a 7th game by the Vancouver Canucks. Game 7 would go into overtime as the Flames dreams of a Stanley Cup stood in peril before Joel Otto scored the game winner to send the Flames on to the Smythe Finals. In the Smythe Division Finals the Flames would find things easier as they swept the Los Angeles Kings in 4 straight games. Moving on to the Conference Finals the Flames continued to roll, as they need just 5 games to get past the Chicago Blackhawks and into the Stanley Cup Finals. In the finals the Flames would face the Montreal Canadiens in a rematch of the 1986 final. After spitting the first 2 games at home the Flames battled the Canadiens into overtime in Game 3 at the historic Montreal Forum. However, the Flames would fall in overtime 4-3. Facing the prospect of falling behind 3 games to 1 the Flames need a huge effort in Game 4. A huge effort is what they got as they beat the Habs 4-2 to even the series at 2 games apiece. In Game 5 at the Saddledome the Flames jumped out early as Jim Otto lit the lamp 28 seconds into the game, the Flames would go on to win the game 3-2 surviving a 3rd period flurry by the Canadiens. In Game 6 at Montreal the Flames took a 2-1 lead as Lanny McDonald found the back of the net in the 2nd period. What would turn out to be McDonald's last goal would turn out to give the Flames the lead for good as Doug Gilmour scored twice in the 3rd period to give the Flames a 4-2 win and their first Stanley Cup. The Flames became the first road team to win the cup at the Forum as Defenseman Al MacInnis would go on to claim the Conn Smythe as an emotional Lanny McDonald embraced the Stanley Cup as he finally captured the ultimate prize.

1989/90: Coming off their Stanley Cup Champions the Flames remained the team to beat in the West finishing with a solid record of 42-23-15 coming just 2 points shy of another President's Trophy. Helping to keep the Flames strong was the addition of talent from the Soviet Red Army team as Sergei Makarov a 12-year version of one of the best National team joined the Flames as part of the first wave of Russian born players in the NHL. Makarov would cause some controversy as he won the Calder Trophy at the age of 31, as many argued he should have not been considered a rookie after his long career in Russia. Out to defend the cup the Flames had difficulties from the start as their defense struggled allowed 24 goals in the first 4 games including 12 in Game as the Los Angeles Kings grabbed a 3-1 series lead. The Flames would stay alive with a 5-1 win in Game 5, but the Kings would go on to put the Flames out with a 4-3 win in overtime of Game 6.

1990/91: Theo Fleury has a break out season with 51 goals and 53 assists as the Flames continue to burn bright in the regular season finishing in 2nd place with a solid 46-26-8 record. However, for the second year in a row the Flames would struggle in the playoffs falling behind the hated Edmonton Oilers 3 games to 1. The Flames would spark back to life forcing a 7th game by winning the next 2 games including Game 6 in overtime. However, in Game 7 at the Saddledome the Oilers would be the ones who would emerge victorious in OT.

1991/92: The Flames would struggle defensively all season as their string of 17 straight playoff appearances dating back to their 3rd season in Atlanta comes to a stunning end as the Flames finish in 5th place with a disappointing record of 31-37-12.

1992/93: The Flames would rebound off their disappointing season by finishing in 2nd place with a solid record of 43-30-11, as Gary Roberts scored a team high 53 goals. However, in the playoffs the Flames would disappoint again as they were knocked off by the Los Angels Kings in 6 games losing the final 3 games while allowing 9 goals in Games 5 and 6.

1993/94: The NHL renames the division into geographical names as the Flames capture the Pacific Division with a solid 42-29-13 record as Robert Reichel, Theo Fleury and Gary Roberts each score more then 40 goals and 40 assists. In the playoffs the Flames would get off to a fast start taking a 3-1 series lead over the Vancouver Canucks. However, the Canucks would come back to stun the Flames with 3 straight overtime wins including 2 game winners score by Pavel Bure.

1994/95: Heroes from the 1989 playoffs continue to leave the Flames, as Mike Vernon and Al MacInnins are dealt away in separate deals. Despite the change over the Flames remain atop the Pacific Division with a 24-17-7 record in a season cut in half by a 4-month lockout, despite injuries limiting Gary Roberts to 8 games. However, in the playoffs the Flames would be stunned again losing Game 7 at home in overtime to the San Jose Sharks.

1995/96: Despite struggling to post a 34-37-11 record the Flames are able to sneak into the playoffs as a 7th seed. Along the way Gary Roberts is forced into early retirement with a serve neck injury, playing just 35 games while earning the Bill Masterton trophy. In the playoffs the Flames would make a quick exit, as they were swept in 4 straight by the Chicago Blackhawks.

1996/97: Without Gary Roberts the Flames are never a factor in the playoff chase falling to 5th place in the Pacific Division with a record of 32-41-9.

1997/98: Just 2 years after being forced to retire early, Gary Roberts makes a stunning comeback. However, it is with Carolina Hurricanes, not the Flames. Perhaps the Flames could have used him as they missed the playoffs for the 2nd straight season marking the first time in the entire franchise that they went 2 straight seasons without the playoffs.

1998/99: The Flames continue to struggle with the economic realities of the Canadian Dollar as they are forced to trade away Flames hero Theo Fleury in the middle of the season knowing they would not be able to resign him following the season. With the trade of Fleury the Flames would miss the playoffs for the 3rd straight season with a record of 30-40-12.

1999/00: The Flames began a new millennium with a young team of new heroes including Jarome Iginla and Valeri Bure who each have solid seasons. However, the Flames would fall short of the playoffs again with a record of 31-47-10-5 as they finished in last place in the Northwest Division.

2000/01: Mike Vernon who backstopped the Flames 1989 Stanley Cup run in goal returns to help a young team make it back to the playoffs. However, Vernon was clearly past his prime as the Flames flickered out again finishing in 4th place with a 27-35-15-4 record.

2001/02: With Jarome Iginla leading the NHL in goals with 50 and scoring with 96 points the Flames get off to a solid start and appear to be set to make a return to the postseason. However despite the spectacular season from Iginla who was a runner up for the Hart Trophy the Flames would fade in the second half missing the playoffs for the 6th straight season with a 32-35-12-3 record.

2002/03: After leading the league in scoring Jarome Iginla suffer through what has to be considered a disappointing season as he on scores 35 goals, while putting up a total of 67 points, with a terrible -10 +/- rating. With Iginla struggling the Flames would hardly flicker as they spent all season in last place as Coach Greg Gilbert was fired and eventually replaced Darryl Sutter, while the Flames posted a terrible record of 29-36-13-4.

2003/04: The Flames began the season making history as they named Jarome Iginla team captain making him the first black captain in NHL history. The Flames would get off to a slow start as goalie Roman Turek struggled. On November 16th the Flames who had a 6-8-0-2 acquired goalie Miikka Kiprusoff from the San Jose Sharks with the hopes of lowering the goals they allowed. Kiprusoff would be just what the Flames needed as he provided an instant fire wall for the Flames who were now able to stringing wins together as Kiprusoff had a league low 1.70 GAA, as the Flames posted a 13-2-3-0 record in Kiprusoff's first 6 weeks after the trade. However a groin injury would force him to miss the entire month of January. In his absence the Flames would go 7-10-2-0, a record good enough to keep them alive in the playoff race. When Kipper returned the Flames won their first 4 games as they began a strong push that landed them in the playoffs for the first time in 9 years with a record of 42-30-7-3 as they placed 3rd in the Northwest Division. In their first playoff series since 1995 the Flames were matched up against the Vancouver Canucks. The series started off shaky for the Flames who dropped the opener 5-3. However, they would rebound with a strong 2-1in Game 2. In the first playoff game in Calgary in 9 years the Flames were frustrated again losing 2-1. The Flames would bounce back again in Game 4 as Kiprusoff blanked the Canucks in a 4-0 win. The Flames would finally take control of the series with a 2-1 win in Game 5. However with a chance to close out their first playoff series win since wining the 1989 Stanley Cup the Flames fell behind early in Game 6 at home trailing 4-0 midway through the 2nd period. The Flames would not go down quietly rallying to score 4 goals and force overtime. After 2 scoreless OT periods the Canucks would score and would send the series back to Vancouver for a decisive 7th game. In Game 7 the Flames led 2-1 in the closing seconds; however the Canucks would tie the game with 6 seconds left giving flashbacks to Flames Game 7 failures in the past. However this time Flames would take advantage of an early OT power play as Martin Gelinas scored 1:25 into overtime, as the Flames advanced to the second round for the first time since winning the cup in 1989. In the 2nd Round the Flames faced the Detroit Red Wings who had the best record in the NHL all season. In Game 1 Miikka Kiprusoff faced a barrage of Red Wings shots but kept the game tied at 1 at the end of regulation as the Flames had overtime magic again on a Marcus Nilsson goal 2:39 in to OT. After the Wings rebounded to take Game 2 the Flames held on to a 3-2 win as Kiprusoff stopped 12 shots in the 3rd period. After dropping Game 4 at home Kiprusoff stopped all 31 shots in Game 5 as the Flames took a 3-2 series edge with a 1-0 win. Kiprusoff was magical again in Game 6 as he turned away shot after shot 44 in all before the Flames won the game an the series in overtime 1-0 on another OT winner by Martin Gelinas.

2003/04: In the Western Conference Finals the Flames who were quickly becoming the darlings of Canada faced the San Jose Sharks as the Coach Darryl Sutter faced the team that fired him in 2003, while Goalie Miikka Kiprusoff faced the team that dealt him away in November. Game 1in San Jose would see the Flames would jump out to a 2-0 lead, only to see the Sharks battle back as the game went to overtime tied at 2. In overtime Steve Montador would knock home the game winner as the Flames took the early advantage. In Game 2 the Flames would take a 2-0 series lead with a solid 4-1 win. However as the series shifted to Calgary before a rowdy Saddledome the Flames continued their home ice struggles losing both games 3-0 and 4-2. However back in San Jose for Game 5 the Flames continued to be road warriors as Kiprusoff earned a shutout in a 3-0 win. Not wanting to chance things the Flames closed out the series with a 3-1 win in Game 6 to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals. As the first Canadian team in the finals in a decade the Flames had the entire nation on their side as even when they were on the road they had fans filling the Saddledome to watch on the big screen. That crowd was more then excited in Game 1 as the Flames beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-1 in Game 1. After the Lightning recovered with a 4-1 win of their own in Game 2, the series shifted to Calgary where the Saddledome was packed to the rafter with record crowds they stayed loud form beginning to end. In Game 3 that crowd had plenty to cheer about as the Flames won 3-0. In Game 4 the Flames fell behind early on a goal by Brad Richards, it would be the only one Kiprusoff allowed, but the Flames were unable to get on the boards themselves as the Lightning evened the series with a 1-0 win. In Game 5 the Flames were back on the road, where they came up with another big Game 5 win this time in overtime on a goal by Oleg Saprykin. With a chance to bring the cup home to Canada the Flames need just one more goal as the game was tied at 2 at the end of regulation. However each shot was turned away as the game remained tie through the first 20 minutes of OT. Then early into the 2nd OT Lightning struck as Martin St. Louis the league MVP who was once labeled as too small and released by the Flames scored to force a 7th game. In Game 7 in Tampa the Flames fell behind early, and entered the 3rd period trailing 2-0, midway through the 3rd period they cut the lead to 2-1, as they made a last desperate push for the Stanley Cup. However they would be turned away as the Lightning held on to a 2-1 victory, ending the Flames magical run, in heartbreaking fashion.

2004/05: Season Cancelled Due to Lock Out

2005/06: After coming with in one win of the Stanley Cup before the Lock Out, big things were expected for the Flames after the missed year as they had one of the most talented teams in the NHL, led by one of the premiere goalies Miikka Kiprusoff who seemed to be just coming into his own. The Flames would not start of in a house of fire as they posted a losing record in October, but after an 8 game winning streak in November they were right back on track, as Kiprusoff and the Flames defense led by hard hitting rookie Dion Phaneuf were extinguishing much of the new offensive fireworks that was being experienced elsewhere in the NHL, as Flames Coach Darryl Sutter insisted his team remain true to team defense, while this hurt individual numbers of stars like Jarome Inginla it helped the Flames be one of the strongest teams in the NHL all season long, as they won the Northwest Division with a solid record of 46-25-11, while Miikka Kiprusoff won the Vezina Trophy with a league high 42 wins and a GAA of 2.07. In the playoffs the Flames would face the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in a tight seven game series, in which five games were decided by one goal. However, they would come up short losing Game 7 at home 3-0.

2006/07: The Season began with change in Calgary, as Darryl Sutter relinquished the coaching reigns to Jim Playfair, to concentrate on his General Manager duties. His new focus would pay off in the pre-season acquisition of Alex Tanguay from the Colorado Avalanche. After struggling early the Flames started to get hot in November as they were unbeatable at home, winning a franchise best 10 straight games at the Saddledome on the way to a NHL best 30-9-2 home record. However, on the road things were quite different as the Flames struggled all season winning just 13 times. However, they would still squeeze into the playoffs with the 8th seed in the Western Conference with an overall record of 43-29-10. Matched up against the Detroit Red Wings, the Flames had visions of reliving the 2004 upset. However, their road woes continued as they were blown out in the first two games in Detroit. In Game 3 the Flames would benefit from the much needed home cooking as they rallied from an early 3rd Period goal to beat the Wings 3-2. The Flames would continue to enjoy the ice at the Saddledome as they evened the series with another 3-2 win in Game 4, powered by two Power Play Goals from Daymond Langkow. However, as the series went back to Detroit in Game 5 the Flames misfired again losing 5-1. With further embarrassment from a slashing incident by backup Goalie Jamie McLennan who hit Johan Franzen in the stomach only 18 seconds after relieving Miikka Kiprusoff. McLennan was abruptly ejected from the game, causing Kiprusoff to return to the net, and suspended five games. Playfair and the Flames organization were also heavily fined, in part because the NHL made actions late in games that were out of hand a particular point of emphasis. Frazen would get his revenge one game later as he eliminated the Flames 2-1 with a goal in double overtime. Following the season the Flames would make another coaching change hiring Mike Keenan who has the experience of taking teams to the next level.