The worst part about the Flames permanent mediocrity is that there's so few great moments and memories to hold on to on days like yesterday. If you flashed a highlight reel of the biggest moments in Flames hockey since the 2004 cup run it would basically be:
1) Matt Stajan's game winning goal in game 6 of the 2015 round 1 series vs. Vancouver (We won one playoff round!!)
2) A couple playoff OT winners in series that we eventually lost in (Backlund's goal vs. Anaheim in 2015, McCarty's OT winner in game 1 vs. Anaheim in 2006)
3) Corey Sarich's hit on Patrick Marleau that triggered a comeback from being down 3-0 to win a game in a first round playoff series that we eventually lost in
No wonder attendance is fading and season ticket holders are bailing. The fan value proposition is to pay ever escalating high prices to take metaphorical gut punches as a fan on a regular basis in the hopes that they can maybe go back to the playoffs someday and generate some low level memories like the ones above.
If your hockey fandom ever aspires to realistically dream of your team playing in a cup final or even being a legitimate cup contender, the Calgary Flames are not for you.
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