[Reggie Dunlop]

.... and why they won't.

https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/nhl/...u1l7f88lst570z

Only the Tampa Bay Lightning scored more goals than the Flames in 2018-19. Last year's Calgary team didn't rely too heavily on special teams to score, either - according to Evolving Hockey, the Flames' 2.88 goals/60 minutes at even strength ranked fifth in the league. Young stars Tkachuk (77 points), Sean Monahan (82) and Elias Lindholm (78) broke out for career-bests while superstar wing Johnny Gaudreau flirted with the 100-point threshold. It's possible Calgary's young forwards are developing into offensive superstars all at the same time.

Exterior pressures exist among the team's Pacific Division rivals, too. The Sharks also topped 100 points last season and could just as easily replicate the feat, while Vegas returns a similar roster in its third season of NHL play. The Coyotes could play a dark-horse spoiler in the Pacific playoff race, too - a late-season push last year saw Arizona miss the playoffs by a mere four points. GM John Chayka brought in veteran Phil Kessel to aid the team's young stars in a quest to make the playoffs for the first time since 2012. This is no suggestion that the Coyotes could knock Calgary out of a playoff spot, but the Pacific only sent three teams to the West's playoff picture last season. Expect Calgary to find more fight in its opponents during intra-division games this season.