Grading the Calgary Flames’ Surprising 2021-2022 Season
The 2021-2022 season was a surprising campaign for the Calgary Flames.
After failing to reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2021, the Flames surprised everyone by not only returning to the postseason, but by winning the Pacific Division in the process.
Calgary posted a record of 50-21-11 (111 points), which was the third-best mark in the Western Conference.
The Flames were able to beat teams in multiple ways during the regular season. Forward Johnny Gaudreau led his team’s offense with 115 points (40 goals and 75 assists). That point total was tied with Jonathan Huberdeau of the Florida Panthers for second in the league.
Defense, however, was where this club really shined. Goaltender Jacob Markstrom was the backbone of the top defense in the West, as the Flames allowed only 2.5 goals per game.
The Flames surprised everyone in 2022.
Calgary drew the Dallas Stars in the opening round of the playoffs, and with a big win in Game 7, it won its first best-of-seven series since the 2015 postseason.
In the Western Conference Semifinals, the Flames took on the Edmonton Oilers in the Battle of Alberta. Calgary won a thrilling 9-6 game in the opening contest of the series but was unable to find another victory in the matchup.
Certainly, the 4-1 series loss to the Oilers is frustrating for a team that played so well all season. However, I think that this return to relevance for the Flames will go a long way in establishing a path forward for the franchise.
There would have been a lot of questions around this organization had it not found success this season. While the team may not have made the deep playoff run that it hoped for, it’s safe to say that the Flames have rediscovered their direction.
To me, the impressive regular season carries a lot of weight when grading Calgary’s season. Another missed postseason could have spelled disaster, but instead, this is a team that fans can have confidence in ahead of next season.
More. Top 3 Defining Moments from the Calgary Flames’ 2021-22 Playoff Run. light
The Flames will face a challenging offseason with several key players in need of new contracts, but if the team can bring back its cornerstones, 2023 could be a great year in Calgary.
The Grade: A-