The 2006–07 Calgary Flames season began with a great deal of promise following the acquisition of top forward Alex Tanguay from the Colorado Avalanche. The other major off-season news was that Darryl Sutter promoted his assistant coach, Jim Playfair, to head coach as Sutter stayed with the team as general manager only.
A pre-season favorite to win the National Hockey League's Northwest Division,Harrison, Doug, NHL Backgrounder - Calgary Flames, cbc.ca, September 29, 2006, accessed December 2, 2006.SI's 2006–07 NHL preview, sportsillustrated.com, accessed December 2, 2006. the Flames struggled out of the gate in October before a six-game winning streak, and a franchise record ten consecutive home wins in November and December,Canucks end Flames' 10 game home winning streak, espn.com, December 26, 2006. brought the Flames back into contention in the tight Northwest Division.
A January crash proved that the Flames were unable to live up to the pre-season hype. Hoping to rejuvenate the team, GM Sutter orchestrated a trade with the Los Angeles Kings to bring Craig Conroy back to the team. However, there was a lack of passion even after the mid-season shake-up. The Flames struggled to an eighth seed finish in the Western Conference, having to stave off a furious challenge for the final playoff spot by Colorado. The Flames entered the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a first-round match-up against the Detroit Red Wings, falling in six games to the top-seeded Red Wings.
The lackluster season and poor playoff performance led to widespread criticism of rookie head coach Jim Playfair.Dreger, Darren, https://www.tsn.ca/tsn_talent/columnists/darren_dreger/?ID=200816, tsn.ca, March 19, 2007, accessed April 28, 2007. TSN analyst Bob McKenzie even suggested replacing Playfair after game two of the Flames playoff series against Detroit.MacFarlane, Steve, Dump the coach: McKenzie, slam.ca, April 17, 2007, accessed April 28, 2007. Following the season, however, several players defended their coach.Spencer, Donna, Flames head coach Jim Playfair upbeat after disappointing season, cbc.ca, April 24, 2007, accessed April 28, 2007. Despite this, Playfair was relieved of his duties prior to the 2007–08 season.
Regular season Two Flames were named to the roster for the 2007 All Star Game: goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff and defenceman Dion Phaneuf. It was the first appearance for both. Jarome Iginla would have been named to the team as well, but his knee injury kept him out of the game.Perreault, Selanne among all-stars, tsn.ca, January 13, 2007.
On February 3, 2007, the Flames made history by having young Cree singer Akina Shirt perform "O Canada" in Woodlands Cree, the first time the national anthem had ever been performed in an Aboriginal language at a major league sporting event.Edmonton girl to sing anthem in NHL first at Saddledome
On February 6, the Flames retired Mike Vernon's #30. Vernon, who was instrumental in the Flames trip to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1986 and their Cup victory in 1989 became the second Flame to have his number raised to the rafters, preceded only by Lanny McDonald.Flames set to retire Mike Vernon's No. 30 , Calgary Flames Hockey Club, accessed January 31, 2007.
The Flames entered the stretch drive by re-acquiring fan favorite, and former Flame, Craig Conroy in a deal with the Los Angeles Kings,Conroy begins second stint in Calgary following trade , Calgary Flames, accessed February 10, 2007. then by completing a significant trade with the Boston Bruins, acquiring defenceman Brad Stuart along with Wayne Primeau for Chuck Kobasew and Andrew Ference.Flames grab Stuart, Primeau from Bruins, tsn.ca, accessed February 10, 2007.
On February 24, Jarome Iginla scored his 315th career goal, moving him past Joe Nieuwendyk into second on the Flames all-time goal scoring list. Theoren Fleury was the Flames all-time leading scorer at 364 goals.https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=197625&hubname=nhl, tsn.ca, February 25, 2007. Miikka Kiprusoff broke Dan Bouchard's franchise record for career shutouts as a Flame when he recorded his 21st in a 1–0 shootout victory against the Minnesota Wild on March 27.Board, Mike, Kiprusoff sets shutout record but goal is Stanley Cup , Calgary Flames press release, accessed March 30, 2007.
The Flames were not shut out in any of their 82 regular-season games.
Season standings
Playoffs The Flames qualified for the playoffs for the third consecutive season. Calgary entered the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs as the 8th seed in the Western Conference and started on the road against the top ranked Detroit Red Wings.Flames fall, but make playoff cutoff with Avalanche loss, espn.com, April 7, 2007. The Flames were unable to defend against the Wings' ferocious attack, with goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff facing an average of 42 shots per game during the series as Calgary fell to Detroit in six games.Detroit 2, Calgary 1, 2OT, yahoosports, April 23, 2007, accessed April 28, 2007.
Game five, in Detroit, ended with a series of nasty incidents as the Flames' frustration got the better of them. Upset with Detroit's constant bumping of Miikka Kiprusoff throughout the series, and angry with what they believed was an illegal, low-bridge hit by Brett Lebda on Daymond Lankow late in the 5–1 loss, the Flames lashed out. First Langkow delivered a quick punch to the face of Lebda following that hit, and later backup goaltender Jamie McLennan delivered a two-handed slash to Wings forward Johan Franzen after only being in goal for eighteen seconds. McLennan received a match penalty for the slash, and was suspended five games by the NHL. Head coach Jim Playfair was fined $25,000, and the Flames organization $100,000.Duhatchek, Eric, Five-game suspension for McLennan, Globe and Mail, April 22, 2007, accessed April 28, 2007. Franzen would exact a measure of revenge for the hit in game six by scoring the winning goal in double overtime that eliminated the Flames.
The Flames were not shut out in any of their 6 playoff games.
Schedule and results
Regular season
| 1 || October 5 || Calgary || 1 – 3 || Edmonton || || Kiprusoff || 16,839 || 0–1–0 || 0 ||
| 2 || October 7 || Edmonton || 1 – 2 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 1–1–0 || 2 ||
| 3 || October 9 || San Jose || 4 – 1 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 1–2–0 || 2 ||
| 4 || October 12 || Calgary || 1 – 0 || Ottawa || || Kiprusoff || 18,404 || 2–2–0 || 4 ||
| 5 || October 14 || Calgary || 4 – 5 || Toronto || OT || Kiprusoff || 19,338 || 2–2–1 || 5 ||
| 6 || October 17 || Calgary || 4 – 5 || Montreal || || Kiprusoff || 21,273 || 2–3–1 || 5 ||
| 7 || October 19 || Calgary || 2 – 3 || Boston || || Kiprusoff || 17,565 || 2–4–1 || 5 ||
| 8 || October 24 || Phoenix || 1 – 6 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 3–4–1 || 7 ||
| 9 || October 28 || Nashville || 3 – 2 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 3–5–1 || 7 ||
| 10 || October 30 || Washington || 4 – 2 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 3–6–1 || 7 ||
| 11 || November 1 || Calgary || 2 – 3 || Detroit || || Kiprusoff || 20,066 || 3–7–1 || 7 ||
| 12 || November 3 || Calgary || 4 – 5 || Columbus || SO || McLennan || 16,103 || 3–7–2 || 8 ||
| 13 || November 4 || Calgary || 3 – 2 || St. Louis || || Kiprusoff || 12,097 || 4–7–2 || 10 ||
| 14 || November 7 || Dallas || 1 – 3 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 5–7–2 || 12 ||
| 15 || November 10 || Anaheim || 0 – 3 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 6–7–2 || 14 ||
| 16 || November 11 || Calgary || 3 – 2 || Vancouver || || Kiprusoff || 18,630 || 7–7–2 || 16 ||
| 17 || November 14 || St. Louis || 0 – 3 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 8–7–2 || 18 ||
| 18 || November 17 || Detroit || 1 – 4 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 9–7–2 || 20 ||
| 19 || November 21 || Calgary || 1 – 2 || Edmonton || || Kiprusoff || 16,839 || 9–8–2 || 20 ||
| 20 || November 22 || Chicago || 1 – 4 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 10–8–2 || 22 ||
| 21 || November 25 || Calgary || 1 – 3 || Los Angeles || || Kiprusoff || 17,043 || 10–9–2 || 22 ||
| 22 || November 26 || Calgary || 3 – 5 || Anaheim || || McLennan || 17,174 || 10–10–2 || 22 ||
| 23 || November 28 || Colorado || 2 – 5 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 11–10–2 || 24 ||
| 24 || December 1 || Columbus || 1 – 2 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 12–10–2 || 26 ||
| 25 || December 5 || Carolina || 0 – 3 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 13–10–2 || 28 ||
| 26 || December 7 || Calgary || 2 – 3 || Minnesota || OT || Kiprusoff || 18,568 || 13–10–3 || 29 ||
| 27 || December 9 || Vancouver || 3 – 5 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 14–10–3 || 31 ||
| 28 || December 12 || Minnesota || 2 – 5 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 15–10–3 || 33 ||
| 29 || December 14 || Calgary || 1 – 3 || Vancouver || || Kiprusoff || 18,630 || 15–11–3 || 33 ||
| 30 || December 16 || Calgary || 6 – 3 || Phoenix || || Kiprusoff || 15,551 || 16–11–3 || 35 ||
| 31 || December 18 || Calgary || 1 – 4 || Anaheim || || Kiprusoff || 17,174 || 16–12–3 || 35 ||
| 32 || December 19 || Calgary || 5 – 3 || Los Angeles || || McLennan || 17,247 || 17–12–3 || 37 || |- style="background:#ccc;" | || December 21 || Calgary || PPD† || Colorado || || || || || ||
| 33 || December 23 || Calgary || 1 – 4 || San Jose || || Kiprusoff || 17,496 || 17–13–3 || 37 ||
| 34 || December 26 || Vancouver || 3 – 1 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 17–14–3 || 37 ||
| 35 || December 27 || Calgary || 5 – 6 || Vancouver || OT || Kiprusoff || 18,630 || 17–14–4 || 38 ||
| 36 || December 29 || Los Angeles || 4 – 6 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 18–14–4 || 40 ||
| 37 || December 31 || Edmonton || 2 – 4 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 19–14–4 || 42 || |- | colspan=11|†December 21 game @ Colorado was postponed due to a snowstorm in Denver. It was the first postponement of a game in Flames franchise history.
| 38 || January 2 || Vancouver || 3 – 2 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 19–15–4 || 42 ||
| 39 || January 4 || Florida || 4 – 5 || Calgary || OT || McLennan || 19,289 || 20–15–4 || 44 ||
| 40 || January 6 || Dallas || 2 – 4 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 21–15–4 || 46 ||
| 41 || January 9 || Minnesota || 0 – 3 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 22–15–4 || 48 ||
| 42 || January 11 || Calgary || 7 – 3 || Colorado || || Kiprusoff || 18,007 || 23–15–4 || 50 ||
| 43 || January 13 || Edmonton || 1 – 3 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 24–15–4 || 52 ||
| 44 || January 15 || Calgary || 3 – 5 || Nashville || || Kiprusoff || 12,011 || 24–16–4 || 52 ||
| 45 || January 17 || Calgary || 2 – 4 || Dallas || || Kiprusoff || 18,532 || 24–17–4 || 52 ||
| 46 || January 19 || Anaheim || 2 – 3|| Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 25–17–4 || 54 ||
| 47 || January 20 || Calgary || 4 – 0 || Edmonton || || Kiprusoff || 16,839 || 26–17–4 || 56 ||
| 48 || January 26 || Calgary || 1 – 2 || Minnesota || SO ||Kiprusoff || 15,568 || 26–17–5 || 57 ||
| 49 || January 28 || Calgary || 3 – 4 || Chicago || OT || Kiprusoff || 11,182 || 26–17–6 || 58 ||
| 50 || January 30 || Los Angeles || 1–4 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 27–17–6 || 60 ||
| 51 || February 2 || Columbus || 2 – 6 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 28–18–6 || 62 ||
| 52 || February 3 || Vancouver || 3 – 4 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 29–18–6 || 64 ||
| 53 || February 6 || Chicago || 3 – 2 || Calgary || SO || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 29–18–7 || 65 ||
| 54 || February 8 || Calgary || 1 – 2 || Columbus || || McLennan || 15,739 || 29–19–7 || 65 ||
| 55 || February 10 || Calgary || 2 – 3 || Buffalo || SO || Kiprusoff || 18,690 || 29–19–8 || 66 ||
| 56 || February 11 || Calgary || 4 – 7 || Detroit || || McLennan || 20,066 || 29–20–8 || 66 ||
| 57 || February 13 || Atlanta || 1 – 4 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 30–20–8 || 68 ||