Flames make Playoffs!
14.04.02
Flames finish 6th on West
The Calgary Flames ended their 5 year post-season hiatus earlier this week finishing 6th in the Western Conference. Top amongst the players feeling ecstatic, was long standing Flame Cory Stillman (pictured).
"It's been a long time for us. 1996 feels like a long time ago." Said the winger. "All year we've been hovering around 6th in the West and we are just really proud and grateful to be able to finally reward the fans and make the playoffs."
Stillman, for his efforts, had a difficult season on the scoresheet with just 13 goals and 33 points and a minus -1. What made it more difficult was Stillman broke out offensively last season with 28 goals, 53 points and a plus +20.
"I'm not sure what happened this year. I just really struggled getting used to the new system. But making the playoffs makes it all worth it. The real season starts soon and it is a clean sheet.
Stillman has been out recently with a mild oblique strain but hopes to be healthy in time for the first round against the Dallas Stars.
The Flames finished with a 37-32-13 record for 87 points and finished 6 points back of the 5th place Oilers.
The Western Conference stacks up as the following:
1: Detroit Red Wings 112 pts
2: Colorado Avalanche 111 pts
3: Dallas Stars 102 pts
4: St.Louis Blues 112 pts
5: Edmonton Oilers 94 pts
6: Calgary Flames 87 pts
7: Chicago Blackhawks 85 pts
8: San Jose Sharks 78 pts
This makes the first time since the 1992/93 season that both the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers have made the playoffs in the same season.