The NHL regular season standings showed that the Calgary Flames
finished ninth in the Western Conference, just five points
behind the eventual Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings.
Since they were just a few points out of eighth place and the
last playoff spot, general manager Jay Feaster should stay the
course because the Flames will be back on track and should be
able to make a strong run at the playoffs this year. Right?
That's one way to look at it, but it would be the wrong way to
view this team. The Flames have missed the playoffs for three
consecutive seasons. And they haven't won a playoff series since
the 2003-04 season when they got to the Stanley Cup Finals
before losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the seventh game.
The goaltender for the Flames in those heady times was Miikka
Kiprusoff. The goaltender during these depressing times is still
Kiprusoff.  Kiprusoff, 35, is not the problem. He is still one
of the better goalies in the NHL, and there are a number of
contending teams that could be