Flames clinch second in the West
05.04.03
Win over Oilers give Flames 108pts
When the final buzzer sounded, Maurice looked more relieved than anything else. It had been a long and successful season and the coach was happy his team escaped intact. "We're a solid group. A deep group. I'm just happy that we've got home-ice for the playoffs, and we're all healthy. We're ready to go." Said the coach.
The Flames capped off their successful season with a 3-2 win over the Oilers and finished their season on a high note: a 5 game winning streak.
Martin St.Louis (pictured) scored his final goal of the year, a team leading 41 to cap off an amazing breakout season.
"It was a great year, for us, for me. I'm just happy to be able to share it the rest of the team. Without them, I'd probably still be in the minors somewhere." St.Louis arrived in Calgary in 1998 as for a try-out and made the team shortly after. He became a regular contributor the following season and is now a fixture on the top line with Jarome Iginla.
With Calgary finishing atop of the Northwest Division, and finishing 2nd in the Conference, a rematch with the Dallas Stars is in the cards for the first round, but with the shoe being on the other foot.
"We're pretty excited to be playing Dallas again this year." Noted defenseman Dan Boyle who led all blue-liners on the team with 52 points. "We took them to 7 games last year. Now we're the favourites. The pressure is on."
Aside from Boyle and St.Louis, many Flames enjoyed personal bests this season. J-S Giguere, the team's starting goaltender, realized his promise between the pipes. Giguere posted a career high 1.85 GAA and .931SV%. He also had 13 shutouts. The numbers placed him in the top 3 in many statistically categories, placing him amongst the best in the business.
Jarome Iginla scored 30 goals for the second time in his young career. He finished second on team scoring with 62 points in 76 games.
Shutdown centre Ryan Johnson led the team with an impressive +31 and enjoyed a career high in points with 36.
Aside from the playoffs, there is other business to attend to now that the season is over. Notably, the contracts of General Manager Dave Fyvie, and his coach Paul Maurice are both due to expire at the end of June.
"June is a long way off right now." Noted GM Fyvie, who was in the dressing room for the first time this season, congratulating his players and coaches. "It's on the back burner, and we'll get there when we get there."
2nd place Calgary is primed to begin the Playoffs which being April 9th. The Flames will host the 7th place Dallas Stars in a rematch of last season's opening round. The Flames won the season series 3 games to 1.