The 1993–94 Calgary Flames season was the 14th National Hockey League season in Calgary. It was a season of change across the NHL, as the league reorganized its divisions and playoff format. The Smythe Division was retired and the Flames joined the new Pacific Division of the Western Conference, as the NHL aligned itself with the other major sports leagues in naming divisions by geographical boundaries. The change angered fans, who preferred the traditional convention, which honoured the game's past builders.A question of values, sportsillustrated.com, January 18, 2007, accessed March 4, 2007
Realignment also led to significant changes in the playoff format, as the top eight teams in each conference now qualified for the post-season, rather than the top four in each division. Under the new format, the top team in each division was guaranteed one of the top two seeds, and declared the divisional champion, as opposed to having to win two playoff rounds to capture the division title. Thus, the Flames became the first Pacific Division champions, and the second seed in the playoffs. They faced the second place Vancouver Canucks in the playoffs rather than the fourth place Mighty Ducks of Anaheim who failed to qualify under the new system.
The playoffs ended in another bitter disappointment, as the Flames blew a 3–1 series lead, losing the last three games in overtime to the Canucks,All-time playoff results, 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, pg. 220 who would eventually go onto the Stanley Cup finals before bowing out to the New York Rangers.SI Flashback: Stanley Cup 1994, sportsillustrated.com, accessed March 4, 2007
Two Flames represented the Western Conference at the 1994 All-Star Game: Forward Joe Nieuwendyk and defenceman Al MacInnis.All-star selections, 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, pg. 22
For the second consecutive season, four Flames reached the 30-goal plateau. Three of them (Theoren Fleury, Robert Reichel and Gary Roberts) were also 40-goal scorers.
Prior to the season, Calgary lost two players in the 1993 NHL expansion draft, as the Florida Panthers selected defenceman Alexander Godynyuk 13th overall, and centre Brian Skrudland 32nd overall. The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim did not select any Flames players.
Regular season
The Flames were shorthanded a total of 465 times during the regular season, the most among all 26 teams.
Season standings
Playoffs The Flames entered the 1994 Stanley Cup playoffs as the second seed under the new alignment, facing the seventh seeded Vancouver Canucks. After getting blown out at home in game one, the Flames responded by winning the next three games to take a 3–1 series lead. The Flames, however, lost the last three games in overtime, as they proved unable to overcome a series of injuries to key players, and the tenacious play of the Canucks. Pavel Bure scored the series winner on a breakaway in double overtime for the Canucks, who reached the Stanley Cup finals before falling to the New York Rangers in seven games.
For the Flames, it was another year of playoff frustration, as for the fifth consecutive year, Calgary failed to reach the second round of the post-season.
Schedule and results
Regular season
| 1 || October 5 || NY Islanders || 1 – 2 || Calgary || || 1–0–0 || 2 ||
| 2 || October 7 || San Jose || 2 – 6 || Calgary || || 2–0–0 || 4 ||
| 3 || October 9 || Calgary || 5 – 1 || Vancouver || || 3–0–0 || 6 ||
| 4 || October 14 || Calgary || 2 – 1 || San Jose || || 4–0–0 || 8 ||
| 5 || October 16 || Calgary || 4 – 8 || Los Angeles || || 4–1–0 || 8 ||
| 6 || October 17 || Calgary || 2 – 2 || Anaheim || OT || 4–1–1 || 9 ||
| 7 || October 20 || Calgary || 5 – 3 || Edmonton || || 5–1–1 || 11 ||
| 8 || October 21 || Vancouver || 6 – 3 || Calgary || || 5–2–1 || 11 ||
| 9 || October 23 || Boston || 3 – 3 || Calgary || OT || 5–2–2 || 12 ||
| 10 || October 25 || Washington || 2 – 3 || Calgary || OT || 6–2–2 || 14 ||
| 11 || October 27 || Buffalo || 5 – 3 || Calgary || || 6–3–2 || 14 ||
| 12 || October 30 || Edmonton || 1 – 4 || Calgary || || 7–3–2 || 16 ||
| 13 || October 31 || Calgary || 4 – 3 || Winnipeg || || 8–3–2 || 18 ||
| 14 || November 3 || Calgary || 6 – 3 || Hartford || || 9–3–2 || 20 ||
| 15 || November 4 || Calgary || 3 – 6 || Boston || || 9–4–2 || 20 ||
| 16 || November 6 || Calgary || 4 – 3 || Montreal || || 10–4–2 || 22 ||
| 17 || November 9 || Los Angeles || 3 – 4 || Calgary || || 11–4–2 || 24 ||
| 18 || November 11 || Anaheim || 4 – 5 || Calgary || || 12–4–2 || 26 ||
| 19 || November 13 || Vancouver || 3 – 4 || Calgary || || 13–4–2 || 28 ||
| 20 || November 15 || Winnipeg || 2 – 7 || Calgary || || 14–4–2 || 30 ||
| 21 || November 18 || Calgary || 3 – 3 || St. Louis || OT || 14–4–3 || 31 ||
| 22 || November 20 || Calgary || 3 – 4 || Dallas || || 14–5–3 || 31 ||
| 23 || November 22 || Anaheim || 2 – 1 || Calgary || || 14–6–3 || 31 ||
| 24 || November 24 || Toronto || 3 – 5 || Calgary || || 15–6–3 || 33 ||
| 25 || November 26 || Chicago || 6 – 3 || Calgary || || 15–7–3 || 33 ||
| 26 || November 30 || Dallas || 2 – 2 || Calgary || OT || 15–7–4 || 34 ||
| 27 || December 4 || Philadelphia || 0 – 6 || Calgary || || 16–7–4 || 36 ||
| 28 || December 6 || Calgary || 6 – 1 || Ottawa || || 17–7–4 || 38 ||
| 29 || December 7 || Calgary || 4 – 4 || Quebec || OT || 17–7–5 || 39 ||
| 30 || December 10 || Calgary || 2 – 6 || Buffalo || || 17–8–5 || 39 ||
| 31 || December 11 || Calgary || 1 – 3 || Toronto || || 17–9–5 || 39 ||
| 32 || December 14 || Vancouver || 4 – 8 || Calgary || || 18–9–5 || 41 ||
| 33 || December 17 || St. Louis || 4 – 3 || Calgary || || 18–10–5 || 41 ||
| 34 || December 18 || Winnipeg || 4 – 5 || Calgary || OT || 19–10–5 || 43 ||
| 35 || December 20 || Los Angeles || 5 – 4 || Calgary || OT || 19–11–5 || 43 ||
| 36 || December 22 || Calgary || 3 – 7 || Edmonton || || 19–12–5 || 43 ||
| 37 || December 23 || Calgary || 3 – 4 || Vancouver || || 19–13–5 || 43 ||
| 38 || December 28 || Calgary || 3 – 3 || San Jose || OT || 19–13–6 || 44 ||
| 39 || December 30 || Edmonton || 1 – 7 || Calgary || || 20–13–6 || 46 ||
| 40 || December 31 || Montreal || 5 – 2 || Calgary || || 20–14–6 || 46 ||
| 41 || January 2 || Calgary || 3 – 4 || St. Louis || OT || 20–15–6 || 46 ||
| 42 || January 5 || Calgary || 4 – 1 || NY Rangers || || 21–15–6 || 48 ||
| 43 || January 7 || Calgary || 2 – 6 || NY Islanders || || 21–16–6 || 48 ||
| 44 || January 8 || Calgary || 2 – 2 || Pittsburgh || || 21–16–7 || 49 ||
| 45 || January 11 || Quebec || 0 – 1 || Calgary || || 22–16–7 || 51 ||
| 46 || January 15 || Ottawa || 0 – 10 || Calgary || || 23–16–7 || 53 ||
| 47 || January 17 || Calgary || 2 – 3 || San Jose || || 23–17–7 || 53 ||
| 48 || January 19 || Calgary || 4 – 3 || Vancouver || || 24–17–7 || 55 ||
| 49 || January 24 || Los Angeles || 3 – 3 || Calgary || OT || 24–17–8 || 56 ||
| 50 || January 26 || Dallas || 3 – 2 || Calgary || || 24–18–8 || 56 ||
| 51 || January 28 || New Jersey || 2 – 2 || Calgary || OT || 24–18–9 || 57 ||
| 52 || January 29 || St. Louis || 5 – 3 || Calgary || || 24–19–9 || 57 ||
| 53 || February 2 || Calgary || 4 – 2 || Anaheim || || 25–19–9 || 59 ||
| 54 || February 5 || Calgary || 5 – 4 || Los Angeles || OT || 26–19–9 || 61 ||
| 55 || February 7 || Edmonton || 3 – 4 || Calgary || || 27–19–9 || 63 ||
| 56 || February 9 || Calgary || 1 – 6 || Edmonton || || 28–19–9 || 65 ||
| 57 || February 11 || Hartford || 1 – 4 || Calgary || || 29–19–9 || 67 ||
| 58 || February 12 || Toronto || 2 – 3 || Calgary || || 30–19–9 || 69 ||
| 59 || February 14 || Chicago || 4 – 2 || Calgary || || 30–20–9 || 69 ||
| 60 || February 18 || Calgary || 2 – 4 || Dallas || || 30–21–9 || 69 ||
| 61 || February 20 || Calgary || 5 – 2 || Winnipeg || || 31–21–9 || 71 ||
| 62 || February 22 || Calgary || 4 – 4 || Vancouver || OT || 31–21–10 || 72 ||
| 63 || February 24 || Tampa Bay || 4 – 0 || Calgary || || 31–22–10 || 72 ||
| 64 || February 26 || Los Angeles || 2 – 4 || Calgary || || 32–22–10 || 74 ||
| 65 || March 1 || Calgary || 2 – 5 || Detroit || || 32–23–10 || 74 ||
| 66 || March 3 || Calgary || 2 – 4 || Chicago || || 32–24–10 || 74 ||
| 67 || March 5 || Calgary || 3 – 6 || New Jersey || || 32–25–10 || 74 ||
| 68 || March 6 || Calgary || 4 – 4 || Washington || OT || 32–25–11 || 75 ||
| 69 || March 9 || Detroit || 5 – 1 || Calgary || || 32–26–11 || 75 ||
| 70 || March 11 || Florida || 2 – 4 || Calgary || || 33–26–11 || 77 ||
| 71 || March 12 || San Jose || 0 – 2 || Calgary || || 34–26–11 || 79 ||
| 72 || March 15 || Calgary || 7 – 3 || Tampa Bay || || 35–26–11 || 81 ||
| 73 || March 16 || Calgary || 1 – 2 || Florida || || 35–27–11 || 81 ||
| 74 || March 20 || Calgary || 6 – 3 || Toronto || || 36–27–11 || 83 ||
| 75 || March 22 || NY Rangers || 4 – 4 || Calgary || || 36–27–12 || 84 ||
| 76 || March 26 || Pittsburgh || 3 – 5 || Calgary || || 37–27–12 || 86 ||
| 77 || March 31 || Calgary || 4 – 1 || Philadelphia || || 38–27–12 || 88 ||
| 78 || April 2 || Calgary || 3 – 3 || Detroit || || 38–27–13 || 89 ||
| 79 || April 3 || Calgary || 1 – 2 || Chicago || || 38–28–13 || 89 ||
| 80 || April 6 || Anaheim || 2 – 4 || Calgary || || 39–28–13 || 91 ||
| 81 || April 8 || San Jose || 2 – 5 || Calgary || || 40–28–13 || 93 ||
| 82 || April 9 || Detroit || 2 – 4 || Calgary || || 41–28–13 || 95 ||
| 83 || April 11 || Calgary || 3 – 0 || Anaheim || || 42–28–13 || 97 ||
| 84 || April 13 || Calgary || 4 – 6 || Los Angeles || || 42–29–13 || 97 ||
Legend:
Playoffs
| 1 || April 18 || Vancouver || 5 – 0 || Calgary || || 17,764 || Vancouver leads 1–0 ||
| 2 || April 20 || Vancouver || 5 – 7 || Calgary || || 18,318 || Series tied 1–1 ||
| 3 || April 22 || Calgary || 4 – 2 || Vancouver || || 16,150 || Calgary leads 2–1 ||
| 4 || April 24 || Calgary || 3 – 2 || Vancouver || || 16,150 || Calgary leads 3–1 ||
| 5 || April 26 || Vancouver || 2 – 1 || Calgary || OT || 19,059 || Calgary leads 3–2 ||
| 6 || April 28 || Calgary || 2 – 3 || Vancouver || OT || 16,150 || Series tied 3–3 ||
| 7 || April 30 || Vancouver || 4 – 3 || Calgary || 2OT || 20,230 || Vancouver wins 4–3 ||
Legend:
Player statistics
Skaters Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
Regular season Playoffs Player # GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM Robert Reichel 26844053935870550 Theoren Fleury 1483404585186764105 Gary Roberts 1071414384145726824 Al MacInnis 27528548295726812 Joe Nieuwendyk 25643639755162240 German Titov 13762718452872134 Wes Walz 17531127381663032 Kelly Kisio 1151723302870228 Ron Stern 227192029243720212 Paul Ranheim 286710142420----- Joel Otto 29811112239230114 Michel Petit 76322123110----- Trent Yawney 18586152160700016 Dan Keczmer† 3957120214830004 Gary Suter 2025491320----- Ted Drury 2734571226----- Chris Dahlquist 577111125210000 Paul Kruse 12683811185700014 Michael Nylander† 92152911630000 Sandy McCarthy 15795510173700034 Zarley Zalapski† 331337101870332 Frank Musil 3751891071128 Brad Schlegel 21261674----- Mike Sullivan† 3219235671128 James Patrick† 615224670116 Trevor Kidd 37310444----- Vesa Viitakoski 32/1981230----- Len Esau 3660337----- Kevin Dahl 4330332360004 Greg Paslawski 23152022----- David Haas 1921127----- Guy Larose† 4270114----- Brad Miller 55/34801114----- Lee Norwood 61601116----- Jason Muzzatti 3110000----- Jeff Reese 3510000----- Mark Freer 1620004----- Peter Ahola 3820000----- David Struch 3340004----- Kevin Wortman 3450002----- Andrei Trefilov 1110004----- Mike Vernon 30480001470002
†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Calgary. Stats reflect time with the Flames only.
Goaltenders Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average