Calgary Flames: Five Reasons They Made It To The Playoffs

The Calgary Flames officially have that much-wanted X beside their name. In about a week, they’ll be in the race for the Stanley Cup.

It’s that time of the year! The Calgary Flames clinched a playoff spot with their win over the San Jose Sharks. This is the second time they’ve clinched in three years but just the second time in eight years. So we don’t get to write these kinds of articles a whole lot.

Now, a team doesn’t just make it to the playoffs. There are many factors and you have to be a legitimately good team. You don’t just make it by fluke or by luck. 82 games a season, it’s hard to make it by luck.

But the Flames have had many ups and downs this season. They started their year off horribly. They started off the season going 5-10-1 and by mid-November, were one of the worst teams in the NHL. In every aspect. Their goal differential, their special teams, their goaltending, etc. Basically any factor that affects a team, the Flames were struggling with.

But they completely turned their season around and the players and management were patient with head coach Glen Gulutzan. He had a system. Clearly, that system wasn’t working to start the year off. And fans were frustrated. But the players were patient and the management was patient, and that patience definitely paid off.

So let’s take a look at five major factors for why the Flames made it to just their second playoff berth in eight years.