The 2007–08 Calgary Flames season was the 28th season for the Calgary Flames and 36th season for the Flames franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL).
In a surprise move, the Flames announced on June 14 that Jim Playfair would be replaced by "Iron" Mike Keenan as the team's head coach. Playfair remained with the Flames organization until 2011. Keenan entered the season sixth all-time in the NHL in wins.
General manager Darryl Sutter spent big bucks on Cory Sarich. He also acquired Adrian Aucoin (and his $4 million annual salary) in a trade. Owen Nolan,Owen Nolan - Notes - NHL.com - Players Anders Eriksson,Anders Eriksson - Notes - NHL.com - Players and Mark SmithMark Smith - Notes - NHL.com - Players are all brought in as GM Sutter's free-agent reclamation projects.The Calgary Sun, April 11, 2007, Sports Pullout p. 9 Sutter is unable to come to terms with Mark Giordano, and the highly rated prospect heads to the Dynamo Moscow in Russia instead of the NHL.Mark Giordano, Flames - Notes - NHL.com - Players Sports writer Steve MacFarlane observes that "The team looks like it has no direction—and no confidence in an unpredictable coach".
At the end of the regular season, Miikka Kiprusoff's goals against average of 2.69 was his worst as a Flame up until that point.Miikka Kiprusoff, Flames - Stats - NHL.com - Players
In the playoffs, the team fell to the Sharks in seven games in the first round.
Team notes On December 16, Keenan recorded his 600th career win as a head coach in a 5–3 victory over one of his former teams, the St. Louis Blues.Board, Mike, Keenan joins elite 600–win club , Calgary Flames Hockey Club, December 16, 2007.
Al MacInnis was among four players inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on November 12, 2007. MacInnis spent 13 years in Calgary, and captured the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP when the Flames won the Stanley Cup in 1989.Board, Mike, Interview with Hall-of-Fame inductee Al MacInnis , calgaryflames.com, June 29, 2007.
On November 29, captain Jarome Iginla played in his 804th game, setting a new franchise record for games played in a Flames uniform, surpassing Al MacInnis' mark. Two nights later, Iginla registered his 700th career point in a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. On March 10, Iginla scored his 365th goal, surpassing Theoren Fleury's mark of 364 to become the Flames' all-time goal scoring leader.Iginla passes Fleury in Flames' win, tsn.ca, March 11, 2008.
In December, the Flames became the third team in NHL history to win all six games of a six-game road trip, a feat previously accomplished by the 1971–72 Bruins and 1982–83 Flyers.Keenan rediscovers passion for coaching, tsn.ca, December 19, 2007.McFarlane, Steve, Road warriors complete sweep, Calgary Sun, December 19, 2007. The 2001–02 Red Wings also won six consecutive road games, though that trip was broken in half by the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Two Flames players were voted to start for the Western Conference at the 2008 All-Star Game. Defenceman Dion Phaneuf joined Iginla for the game, which was held in Atlanta, Georgia.Rosen, Dan, NHL tabs All-Star starters, nhl.com, January 8, 2008.
On February 18, Flames' prospect Mickey Renaud, a fifth round pick in the 2007 draft, collapsed and died at the age of 19 at his home in Tecumseh, Ontario. Renaud had been playing for the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League, and was the team's captain.Windsor Spitfires captain Renaud dies , tsn.ca, February 18, 2008. The cause of death was not immediately known.
Regular season
Divisional standings
Conference standings
Playoffs The Flames finished 7th in the Western Conference with 94 points, earning a first-round match-up against the Pacific Division champion San Jose Sharks. It was the third time the two teams had met in the playoffs, with the Sharks defeating the Flames in seven games in the first round of the 1995 playoffs, while the Flames defeated San Jose in six games in the 2004 Western Conference final.
After splitting the first two games in San Jose, the Flames gave up three goals to the Sharks in the first 3½ minutes of the game, but came back to win 4–3. In doing so, the Flames became only the second team in NHL history, after the 1985 Minnesota North Stars to come back from a 3–0 deficit in the first ten minutes of a playoff game., espn.com, April 13, 2008. During Game 6, in which the Flames faced elimination, they scored once in the first and second period each to shut out the Sharks 2–0, as the Sharks did during Game 2. Nolan and Langkow scored both goals respectively and Kiprusoff made 21 saves for his 6th postseason shutout.
Schedule and results
Regular season
| 1 || October 4 || Philadelphia || 3 – 2 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,305 || 0–1–0 || 0 ||
| 2 || October 6 || Vancouver || 4 – 3 || Calgary || OT || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 0–1–1 || 1 ||
| 3 || October 10 || Calgary || 2 – 4 || Detroit || || Kiprusoff || 16,629 || 0–2–1 || 1 ||
| 4 || October 12 || Calgary || 3 – 2 || Dallas || OT || Kiprusoff || 17,132 || 1–2–1 || 3 ||
| 5 || October 13 || Calgary || 7 – 4 || Nashville || || Kiprusoff || 13,152 || 2–2–1 || 5 ||
| 6 || October 16 || Calgary || 4 – 5 || Colorado || SO || Kiprusoff || 16,722 || 2–2–2 || 6 ||
| 7 || October 18 || Los Angeles || 3 – 4 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,305 || 3–2–2 || 8 ||
| 8 || October 20 || Edmonton || 1 – 4 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 4–2–2 || 10 ||
| 9 || October 22 || San Jose || 4 – 1 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 4–3–2 || 10 ||
| 10 || October 24 || Minnesota || 3 – 5 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 5–3–2 || 12 ||
| 11 || October 26 || Colorado || 3 – 2 || Calgary || OT || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 5–3–3 || 13 ||
| 12 || October 30 || Nashville || 1 – 5 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 6–3–3 || 15 ||
| 13 || November 1 || Detroit || 4 – 1 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 6–4–3 || 15 ||
| 14 || November 3 || Calgary || 1 – 4 || Minnesota || || Kiprusoff || 18,568 || 6–5–3 || 15 ||
| 15 || November 5 || Calgary || 1 – 4 || Colorado || || Kiprusoff || 15,655 || 6–6–3 || 15 ||
| 16 || November 8 || Vancouver || 3 – 2 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 6–7–3 || 15 ||
| 17 || November 10 || Edmonton || 4 – 2 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 6–8–3 || 15 ||
| 18 || November 13 || Minnesota || 2 – 3 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 7–8–3 || 17 ||
| 19 || November 17 || Calgary || 3 – 1 || Edmonton || || Kiprusoff || 16,839 || 8–8–3 || 19 ||
| 20 || November 18 || Calgary || 1 – 4 || Vancouver || || Kiprusoff || 18,630 || 8–9–3 || 19 ||
| 21 || November 20 || Colorado || 1 – 4 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 9–9–3 || 21 ||
| 22 || November 22 || Chicago || 2 – 1 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 9–10–3 || 21 ||
| 23 || November 24 || Calgary || 5 – 2 || Colorado || || Kiprusoff || 18,007 || 10–10–3 || 23 ||
| 24 || November 25 || Calgary || 0 – 3 || St. Louis || ||McElhinney || 15,138 || 10–11–3 || 23 ||
| 25 || November 27 || Calgary || 3 – 5 || Detroit || || McElhinney || 17,108 || 10–12–3 || 23 ||
| 26 || November 29 || Anaheim || 4 – 1 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 10–13–3 || 23 ||
| 27 || December 1 || Columbus || 4 – 3 || Calgary || OT || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 10–13–4 || 24 ||
| 28 || December 4 || St. Louis || 1 – 3 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 11–13–4 || 26 ||
| 29 || December 6 || Pittsburgh || 3 – 2 || Calgary || SO || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 11–13–5 || 27 ||
| 30 || December 9 || Calgary || 3 – 2 || Chicago || || Kiprusoff || 13,382 || 12–13–5 || 29 ||
| 31 || December 11 || Calgary || 2 – 1 || Florida || SO || Kiprusoff || 12,499 || 13–13–5 || 31 ||
| 32 || December 13 || Calgary || 9 – 6|| Tampa Bay || || Kiprusoff || 19,026 || 14–13–5 || 33 ||
| 33 || December 14 || Calgary || 4 – 3 || Carolina || || Kiprusoff || 15,536 || 15–13–5 || 35 ||
| 34 || December 16 || Calgary || 5 – 3 || St. Louis || || Kiprusoff || 16,733 || 16–13–5 || 37 ||
| 35 || December 18 || Calgary || 3 – 1 || Columbus || || Kiprusoff || 13,181 || 17–13–5 || 39 ||
| 36 || December 21 || Dallas || 3 – 2 || Calgary || OT || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 17–13–6 || 40 ||
| 37 || December 23 || New Jersey || 1 – 0 || Calgary || OT || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 17–13–7 || 41 ||
| 38 || December 27 || Calgary || 3 – 5 || Vancouver || || Kiprusoff || 18,630 || 17–14–7 || 41 ||
| 39 || December 29 || Anaheim || 3 – 5 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 18–14–7 || 43 ||
| 40 || December 31 || Vancouver || 1 – 2 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 19–14–7 || 45 ||
| 41 || January 2 || NY Rangers || 3 – 4 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 20–14–7 || 47 ||
| 42 || January 3 || Calgary || 3 – 2 || San Jose || OT || Kiprusoff || 17,496 || 21–14–7 || 49 ||
| 43 || January 5 || Calgary || 6 – 4 || Los Angeles || || Kiprusoff || 18,118 || 22–14–7 || 51 ||
| 44 || January 8 || Phoenix || 3 – 1 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 22–15–7 || 51 ||
| 45 || January 11 || NY Islanders || 5 – 4 || Calgary || SO || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 22–15–8 || 52 ||
| 46 || January 13 || Calgary || 1 – 2 || Edmonton || || Kiprusoff || 16,839 || 22–16–8 || 52 ||
| 47 || January 15 || Calgary || 0 – 3 || Nashville || || Kiprusoff || 11,764 || 22–17–8 || 52 ||
| 48 || January 16 || Calgary || 3 – 2 || Minnesota || SO || Kiprusoff || 18,568 || 23–17–8 || 54 ||
| 49 || January 18 || Los Angeles || 1 – 6 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 24–17–8 || 56 ||
| 50 || January 22 || Minnesota || 1 – 2 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 25–17–8 || 58 ||
| 51 || January 30 || San Jose || 4 – 5 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 26–17–8 || 60 ||
| 52 || February 2 || Dallas || 2 – 1 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 26–18–8 || 60 ||
| 53 || February 4 || Calgary || 0 – 5 || Edmonton || || Joseph || 16,839 || 26–19–8 || 60 ||
| 54 || February 5 || Phoenix || 3 – 4 || Calgary || SO || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 27–19–8 || 62 ||
| 55 || February 7 || Chicago || 3 – 1 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 27–20–8 || 62 ||
| 56 || February 9 || Edmonton || 1 – 4 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 28–20–8 || 64 ||
| 57 || February 12 || Calgary || 4 – 3 || San Jose || OT || Kiprusoff || 17,269 || 29–20–8 || 66 ||
| 58 || February 15 || Calgary || 3 – 6 || Los Angeles || || Kiprusoff || 18,118 || 29–21–8 || 66 ||
| 59 || February 17 || Calgary || 2 – 4 || Anaheim || || Kiprusoff || 17,174 || 29–22–8 || 66 ||
| 60 || February 19 || Calgary || 4 – 1 || Phoenix || || Kiprusoff || 15,208 || 30–22–8 || 68 ||
| 61 || February 20 || Calgary || 3 – 2 || Dallas || || Joseph || 18,584 || 31–22–8 || 70 ||
| 62 || February 22 || Detroit || 0 – 1 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 32–22–8 || 72 ||
| 63 || February 24 || Calgary || 2 – 1 || Minnesota || || Kiprusoff || 18,568 || 33–22–8 || 74 ||
| 64 || February 26 || Colorado || 3 – 2 || Calgary || OT || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 33–22–9 || 75 ||
| 65 || February 29 || Calgary || 1 – 3 || Anaheim || || Kiprusoff || 17,174 || 33–23–9 || 75 ||
| 66 || March 1 || Calgary || 3 – 1 || Phoenix || || Joseph || 17,529 || 34–23–9 || 77 ||
| 67 || March 4 || Columbus || 0 – 1 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,239 || 35–23–9 || 79 ||
| 68 || March 7 || Nashville || 2 – 1 || Calgary || OT || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 35–23–10 || 80 ||
| 69 || March 10 || St. Louis || 3 – 7 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 36–23–10 || 82 ||
| 70 || March 12 || Calgary || 2 – 3 || Washington || || Kiprusoff || 17,560 || 36–24–10 || 82 ||
| 71 || March 13 || Calgary || 4 – 6 || Atlanta || || Joseph || 16,244 || 36–25–10 || 82 ||
| 72 || March 16 || Calgary || 4 – 2 || Chicago || || Kiprusoff || 20,177 || 37–25–10 || 84 ||
| 73 || March 18 || Calgary || 0 – 3 || Columbus || || Kiprusoff || 14,270 || 37–26–10 || 84 ||