Can Flames Lift Canada’s 29-Year Stanley Cup Curse?

On Monday, the Flames won their franchise record-tying 10th straight, defeating the Jets 3-1 in Calgary and becoming the first team in NHL history to sweep a homestand of seven-plus games.

With 33 games remaining, they’re now four points clear of the Golden Knights at the top of the Pacific Division. But since GM Brad Treliving took over in 2014, Calgary has one division title and four postseason appearances — and has never advanced past the second round. 

Now, they’re in prime position to do what — astonishingly — no team from Canada has done since the Canadiens in 1993: win a Stanley Cup.

• The Flames have outscored opponents 42-15 over the win streak.
• They have the second-most points (66) in the Western Conference.

• They allow the fewest goals per game in the league (2.23) and are tied for seventh in scoring (3.41).
• Their plus-55 goal differential is tied for third-best in the NHL.

Though Calgary ranks sixth in total cash ($93.7M), its estimated total cap hit ($82.7M) is the highest in the league.

However, the Flames have only a combined $17.6 million cap hit committed to arguably their most important trio: Goaltender Jacob Markstrom’s eight shutouts are a league high, winger Johnny Gaudreau is fourth in points (44), and center Elias Lindholm is on a franchise-record-tying eight-game goal streak.

Calgary is the seventh-favorite (+1,500*) to win its second title — and first since 1989.