When it comes to Stanley Cup victories, the Calgary Flames aren’t the first club that springs to mind. The Flames have only won one Stanley Cup, having reached the finals three times: in 1986, 1989, and 2004. That sole win came in 1989, which means the Flames haven’t won the Stanley Cup in more than 30 years. Could this be the year that changes?
They’ve been one of the most impressive teams in the NHL this season, which is a remarkable turnaround from last season when they missed out on the playoffs altogether. Having started as big outsiders for the Stanley Cup, they’re now ranked fifth overall in the NHL, according to sportsbooks. So, if you are a betting hockey fan checking out the odds on the winners’ markets and working out how to use the Pointsbet promo codes, you may want to know just how good this Flames team is.
Dominant top line
The Flames are also rated as the best of the Canadian teams. While they still have some work to do if they are going to overhaul the likes of the Colorado Avalanche and the Florida Panthers to win the Stanley Cup, they are clearly one of the rising powers in the NHL.
The main reason for that, besides the influence of coach Darryl Sutter, is the almost total dominance of their top line. Since coming together at the end of the 2020–21 season, the dynamic trio of Matthew Tkachuk, Johnny Gaudreau, and Elias Lindholm has become one of the most dangerous top lines in hockey, and is arguably the best in the whole league.
Of those three, there is no doubt that Lindholm has grabbed the attention of fans. In his fourth season with Calgary, he is the driving force of the top line, and his elite two-way play has been one of the main reasons for their success this season. There is no question that he is in the best form of his life. But can he help Calgary to greater glory?
Pacific Division tussle
The Los Angeles Kings, the Edmonton Oilers, and the Vegas Golden Knights have all pushed Calgary hard this season so far but they have been equal to the task. While Calgary might only be fifth favorites to win the Stanley Cup, they are the clear favorites to win the Pacific Division.
Of course, they don’t need to win the Division to end up in the playoffs, as the top three teams will progress from the regular season. However, there’s a difference between limping into the playoffs as a rank outsider and going into the post-season as a Divisional champion, something that Calgary has only achieved twice this century.
They still must play the Kings twice and those games will be pivotal, but the good news for Calgary fans is that there is no sign of their team faltering. Their form has stayed strong and consistent even as others have faltered. With less than 20 games to go, they’ve established a strong lead over the rest of the Division, and at this stage, it is far more likely that they will increase their lead than that be caught. There is no question: Calgary Flames are going to win the Pacific Division.
