I'm also assuming your Top 15 player list Games Played is also only for the time frame in question (and also only for the two teams in question). If so, that chart gives you an indication of what's wrong with how you look at that analysis.
The Flames top 15 players in that time frame have played almost 500 less games than the Blues. Meaning Hitchcock had the benefit of getting 500 more games from his best players to deliver his improved record versus what the Flames coaches got from their best players. That's likely the biggest driver of increased performance for the Blues vs. the Flames.
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