Flames ride Markstrom, offensive depth to playoff berth

The Calgary Flames became the first team in the Pacific Division to clinch a spot in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs when they won 9-1 against the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday.

The Flames (46-20-9) return to the playoffs after failing to qualifying last season, when they were fifth in the seven-team North Division.
Calgary is on pace for a 110-point season, which would be the second-most in Calgary/Atlanta Flames history. The 1988-89 Flames finished with 117 en route to winning the Stanley Cup.
A fast start and a consistent game helped the Flames set the tone for the season. Calgary went 6-1-1 in its first eight games and 12-3-5 in its first 20. The Flames also won 10 straight from Jan. 29 to Feb. 21.
The Flames have been led by their top line this season, each of whom have played in all 75 games. Johnny Gaudreau has scored an NHL career-best 105 points (36 goals, 69 assists), Matthew Tkachuk has scored 96 points (39 goals, 57 assists), and Elias Lindholm has scored 78 points (39 goals, 39 assists). They all rank in the top three in the NHL in plus/minus: Gaudreau leads at plus-59, Lindholm is second at plus-55 and Tkachuk is tied for third at plus-52.
Forward Andrew Mangiapane has scored 32 goals this season, making the Flames the only team with four 30-goal scorers. Calgary is sixth in the NHL in goals per game (3.55).
One of the biggest factors in the Flames' consistency this season has been the play of goalie Jacob Markstrom, who is 35-15-8 with a 2.22 goals-against average, .923 save percentage and nine shutouts in 60 games. The Flames are third in the NHL in goals against per game at 2.49, behind the Carolina Hurricanes (2.33) and the New York Rangers (2.47).
Before the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline, Calgary added two forwards to increase its depth, Tyler Toffoli from the Montreal Canadiens and Calle Jarnkrok from the Seattle Kraken.
Toffoli has scored 21 points (11 goals, 10 assists) in 30 games and Jarnkrok has two assists in 10 games with the Flames.
Here is a look at the Flames' path to a playoff berth:
Most Valuable Player: Markstrom is having an NHL career-best season, already establishing personal bests in shutouts and wins, and his he's on pace to have his lowest goals-against average (2.63, Vancouver Canucks, 2016-17) and highest save percentage (.918, 2019-20, Canucks) for a full season.
Unsung Hero: Lindholm continues to be an underrated elite player in the NHL and has blossomed since being acquired with defenseman Noah Hanifin in a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes for defensemen Dougie Hamilton and Adam Fox, and forward Micheal Ferland, on June 23, 2018. In his four seasons with the Flames, Lindholm has averaged 0.91 points per game (257 points in 282 games), while averaging 19:53 of ice time per game and playing in all situations.
Memorable Moment:The Flames defeated their provincial rivals, the Edmonton Oilers, 9-5 on March 26 on the strength of nine even-strength goals. The Oilers scored first but the Flames answered with three goals. When it was 4-4 3:52 into the second period, Calgary got two goals from Matthew Tkachuk to surge ahead 6-4. After the Oilers made it 6-5, the Flames scored the only three goals of the third period to leave no doubt about this Battle of Alberta result.

Key Number: 187. The Flames have allowed the second-fewest goals in the NHL, evidence of their commitment on the defensive side of the puck. It's the demand that coach Darryl Sutter placed on each player when he was hired March 3, 2021. The Flames had the remainder of the 2020-21 season to adjust to Sutter's methods and strategy, and though they missed the playoffs, they hit the ground running this season with no break-in period required with their new coach.
Question Mark: How battle-hardened are the Flames for the postseason? Calgary has shown few big-picture flaws this season but will not have much experience to draw upon when it comes to the postseason. The Flames missed the playoffs in three of the previous six seasons and have one playoff series victory since reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 2004. Sutter guided the Los Angeles Kings to Cup championships in 2012 and 2014 but experience is an intangible that's difficult to measure and that question will linger in Calgary until the Flames make some inroads into the playoffs.
Reason Flames Can Win It All: The Flames have played the right way all season, a habit that surely will help them when facing the grind and checking-intense style usually seen in the playoffs. Calgary has a No. 1 goalie in Markstrom who has found his groove this season, and he plays behind a big, physical group of defensemen. The Flames complement that package with a deep forward group that includes a potent top line and four other forwards who have won the Stanley Cup: Toffoli (Kings, 2014), Milan Lucic (Boston Bruins, 2011), Blake Coleman (Tampa Bay Lightning, 2020, 2021) and Trevor Lewis (Kings, 2012, 2014).