Quote:
Originally Posted by timbit
85-86
Anybody remember the Flames setting a still existing record 11 game losing streak Dec 14-Jan 7..ending with an 11-1 defeat to the Hartford Whalers?
The only move GM Cliff Fletcher made during that stretch was to call up Mike Vernon.
Bob Johnson stayed on as coach through the horrendous stretch and led the team to the Stanley Cup final
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Simply because I think this is interesting... I know this isn't the point of the comment!
It was such a different division back then. The Flames were always fighting for that 2nd place spot. A playoff spot was essentially assured in those days with the top 4 getting in. Oddly enough, an 11-game losing streak didn't make any difference in the standings at all! They could have lost 20 in a row and got in comfortably.
Standings as of Dec. 12, 1985 (last Flames win before 11-game slide):
01 - 21-05-04 - 46 PTS - Edmonton Oilers
02 - 17-08-03 - 37 PTS - Calgary Flames
03 - 10-17-03 - 23 PTS - Winnipeg Jets
04 - 09-18-03 - 21 PTS - Vancouver Canucks
05 - 07-18-04 - 18 PTS - Los Angeles Kings
Standings as of Jan. 09, 1986 (first Flames win after 11-game slide):
01 - 29-08-04 - 62 PTS - Edmonton Oilers
02 - 18-19-03 - 39 PTS - Calgary Flames
03 - 13-24-05 - 31 PTS - Vancouver Canucks
04 - 13-25-05 - 31 PTS - Winnipeg Jets
05 - 12-23-04 - 28 PTS - Los Angeles Kings
No change (tie-breaker for 3rd/4th). The key for the Flames throughout that slide was they only lost three games in the division; twice to Edmonton and once to Vancouver to start it. That, and the other teams in the Smythe were AWFUL.
Final standings:
01 - 56-17-07 - 119 PTS - Edmonton Oilers
02 - 40-31-09 - 89 PTS - Calgary Flames
03 - 26-47-07 - 59 PTS - Winnipeg Jets -
Swept by Flames
04 - 23-44-13 - 59 PTS - Vancouver Canucks -
Swept by Oilers
05 - 23-49-08 - 54 PTS - Los Angeles Kings
Only in the 80s could a team afford to have a stretch of futility like that, and still make the playoffs with ease! Crazy!
Anyway, obligatory:
