Thanks to a series of recent playoff disappointments, there will be no cause for celebration in Calgary until the Flames toast at least one or two opponents in the post-season.
That said, Cowtown’s Saddleheads have to be pretty happy with how the first half of the season has unfolded, from goalie Miikka Kiprusoff’s consistently solid play, to the emergence of Rene Bourque, to how awesome the Flames look in those retro red and yellow uniforms.
Secondary scoring – meaning anybody not named Jarome Iginla getting goals – has been a sticking point in recent years for Calgary, a team that hasn’t won a playoff series since making the 2004 final.
And while center Olli Jokinen’s production continues to underwhelm, Bourque has stepped up in a big way, depositing 14 goals and 34 points in 35 games after showing signs he could make a real impact as a top-six forward last year.
The Flames, at times in the past, seemed bent on forcing an on-ice kinship between Jokinen and Iginla, but coach Brent Sutter has them on separate lines right now and it’s paid off with a four-game winning streak.
But the real concern in Calgary remains whether the Flames have the team to take four-of-seven from some of the Western Conference’s finest come spring.
The Hockey News ranks the teams 1-30 each Monday based on a combination of last week’s play and a squad’s overall outlook.
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