Flames unable to overcome home woes to reach playoffs

The Calgary Flames (35-32-10, 80 points) were eliminated from Stanley Cup Playoff contention with a
3-0 loss at the Los Angeles Kings on Monday
.

The Flames have missed the playoffs seven times in nine seasons. The only times since 2009-10 they've qualified were last season, when they were the first wild card from the Western Conference and were swept by the Anaheim Ducks in the first round, and in 2014-15, when they finished third in the Pacific Division and lost in five games to the Ducks in the second round.
The Flames have no picks in the first two rounds of the 2018 NHL Draft in Dallas on June 22.
Here is a look at what happened this season for the Flames and why things could be better next season.

The skinny

Potential UFAs: Matt Stajan, C; Kris Versteeg, RW; Chris Stewart, RW; Tanner Glass, LW; Marek Hrivik, LW; Jaromir Jagr, F Matt Bartkowski, D
Potential RFAs: Nicholas Shore, C; Mark Jankowski, C; Garnet Hathaway, RW; Brett Kulak, D; David Rittich, G; Jon Gillies, G
Potential 2018 Draft picks: 5

What went wrong

Home woes: It started badly at Scotiabank Saddledome, the Flames losing four of their first five, and never got better. Calgary is 15-18-4 at home, including a five-game losing streak from Jan. 20-Feb. 1. The Flames had a 17-7-5 road record on Feb. 20 and their road play was largely responsible for keeping their playoffs hopes alive deep into March.
Stage fright:The lack of assertiveness in big games against rivals was also a big factor. Calgary is 10-13-3 against Pacific Division teams and 1-4-1 against the Kings and Dallas Stars, two teams they were chasing for the second wild card.
Smith sidelined: When No. 1 goalie Mike Smith sustained a lower-body injury Feb. 11, the Flames were in third place in the division with 66 points. To that point, Smith arguably was Calgary's MVP (23-16-6, 2.53 goals-against average, .921 save percentage). Smith missed 13 games until his return March 11, and backups David Rittich and Jon Gillies went a combined 5-6-2 with a 3.23 goals-against average and a .895 save percentage.

Video: ANA@CGY: Smith turns away Kesler's wrist shot

Reasons for optimism

Dynamic duo: Linemates Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan each took steps forward this season. Gaudreau has 82 points (23 goals, 59 points) in 76 games, the first time he will finish a full season averaging at least one point per game. His elusiveness, creativity and unpredictability make him a good fit with Monahan, who tied an NHL career high with 31 goals and set an NHL career high with 64 points in 74 games. Monahan is out for the rest of the season to focus on treatments for wrist and hip injuries that had been bothering him for at least a month.
Matthew Tkachuk: The 20-year-old forward, who has missed the past seven games with an upper-body injury, has 49 points (24 goals, 25 assists) in 68 games in his second NHL season, including 10 goals and seven assists when he finally got some power-play time in the second half. He has become a consistent, gritty, all-around player and appears to have a bright future.
Strong defense: The top four, including captain Mark Giordano, Dougie Hamilton, TJ Brodie and Travis Hamonic was thought to be one of the best in the League, although it may have underperformed this season. However, the group is mobile, stable and experienced, and including a possible third pair of Michael Stone and blue-chip prospect Rasmus Andersson, 21, all are signed for at least two more seasons.