# 1993–94 Calgary Flames season

The 1993–94 Calgary Flames season was the 14th National Hockey League season in Calgary. It was a season of change across the NHL, as the league reorganized its divisions and playoff format. The Smythe Division was retired and the Flames joined the new Pacific Division of the Western Conference, as the NHL aligned itself with the other major sports leagues in naming divisions by geographical boundaries. The change angered fans, who preferred the traditional convention, which honoured the game's past builders.
Realignment also led to significant changes in the playoff format, as the top eight teams in each conference now qualified for the post-season, rather than the top four in each division. Under the new format, the top team in each division was guaranteed one of the top two seeds, and declared the divisional champion, as opposed to having to win two playoff rounds to capture the division title. Thus, the Flames became the first Pacific Division champions, and the second seed in the playoffs. They faced the second place Vancouver Canucks in the playoffs rather than the fourth place Mighty Ducks of Anaheim who failed to qualify under the new system.
The playoffs ended in another bitter disappointment, as the Flames blew a 3–1 series lead, losing the last three games in overtime to the Canucks, who would eventually go onto the Stanley Cup finals before bowing out to the New York Rangers.
Two Flames represented the Western Conference at the 1994 All-Star Game: Forward Joe Nieuwendyk and defenceman Al MacInnis.
For the second consecutive season, four Flames reached the 30-goal plateau. Three of them (Theoren Fleury, Robert Reichel and Gary Roberts) were also 40-goal scorers.
Prior to the season, Calgary lost two players in the 1993 NHL expansion draft, as the Florida Panthers selected defenceman Alexander Godynyuk 13th overall, and centre Brian Skrudland 32nd overall. The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim did not select any Flames players.

## Regular season

The Flames were shorthanded a total of 465 times during the regular season, the most among all 26 teams.

### Season standings

Pacific Division :
| No. | CR | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | 3 | Calgary Flames | 84 | 42 | 29 | 13 | 302 | 256 | 97 |
| 2 | 7 | Vancouver Canucks | 84 | 41 | 40 | 3 | 279 | 276 | 85 |
| 3 | 8 | San Jose Sharks | 84 | 33 | 35 | 16 | 252 | 265 | 82 |
| 4 | 9 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | 84 | 33 | 46 | 5 | 229 | 251 | 71 |
| 5 | 10 | Los Angeles Kings | 84 | 27 | 45 | 12 | 294 | 322 | 66 |
| 6 | 11 | Edmonton Oilers | 84 | 25 | 45 | 14 | 261 | 305 | 64 |
Note: No. = Division rank, CR = Conference rank, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
 Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.
Western Conference :
| R | | Div | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | y- Detroit Red Wings * | CEN | 84 | 46 | 30 | 8 | 356 | 275 | 100 |
| 2 | x- Calgary Flames * | PAC | 84 | 42 | 29 | 13 | 302 | 256 | 97 |
| 3 | Toronto Maple Leafs | CEN | 84 | 43 | 29 | 12 | 280 | 243 | 98 |
| 4 | Dallas Stars | CEN | 84 | 42 | 29 | 13 | 286 | 265 | 97 |
| 5 | St. Louis Blues | CEN | 84 | 40 | 33 | 11 | 270 | 283 | 91 |
| 6 | Chicago Blackhawks | CEN | 84 | 39 | 36 | 9 | 254 | 240 | 87 |
| 7 | Vancouver Canucks | PAC | 84 | 41 | 40 | 3 | 279 | 276 | 85 |
| 8 | San Jose Sharks | PAC | 84 | 33 | 35 | 16 | 252 | 265 | 82 |
| 9 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | PAC | 84 | 33 | 46 | 5 | 229 | 251 | 71 |
| 10 | Los Angeles Kings | PAC | 84 | 27 | 45 | 12 | 294 | 322 | 66 |
| 11 | Edmonton Oilers | PAC | 84 | 25 | 45 | 14 | 261 | 305 | 64 |
| 12 | Winnipeg Jets | CEN | 84 | 24 | 51 | 9 | 245 | 344 | 57 |
Divisions: CEN – Central, PAC – Pacific
bold – Qualified for playoffs; x – Won division; y – Won Conference (and division); * – Division leader

## Playoffs

The Flames entered the 1994 Stanley Cup playoffs as the second seed under the new alignment, facing the seventh seeded Vancouver Canucks. After getting blown out at home in game one, the Flames responded by winning the next three games to take a 3–1 series lead. The Flames, however, lost the last three games in overtime, as they proved unable to overcome a series of injuries to key players, and the tenacious play of the Canucks. Pavel Bure scored the series winner on a breakaway in double overtime for the Canucks, who reached the Stanley Cup finals before falling to the New York Rangers in seven games.
For the Flames, it was another year of playoff frustration, as for the fifth consecutive year, Calgary failed to reach the second round of the post-season.

## Schedule and results
### Regular season

1993–94 regular season :
October: 8–3–2 (home: 4–2–1; road: 4–1–1)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTRecordPtsRecap
1October 5NY Islanders1 – 2Calgary1–0–02Recap
2October 7San Jose2 – 6Calgary2–0–04Recap
3October 9Calgary5 – 1Vancouver3–0–06Recap
4October 14Calgary2 – 1San Jose4–0–08Recap
5October 16Calgary4 – 8Los Angeles4–1–08Recap
6October 17Calgary2 – 2AnaheimOT4–1–19Recap
7October 20Calgary5 – 3Edmonton5–1–111Recap
8October 21Vancouver6 – 3Calgary5–2–111Recap
9October 23Boston3 – 3CalgaryOT5–2–212Recap
10October 25Washington2 – 3CalgaryOT6–2–214Recap
11October 27Buffalo5 – 3Calgary6–3–214Recap
12October 30Edmonton1 – 4Calgary7–3–216Recap
13October 31Calgary4 – 3Winnipeg8–3–218Recap :
November: 7–4–2 (home: 5–2–1; road: 2–2–1)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTRecordPtsRecap
14November 3Calgary6 – 3Hartford9–3–220Recap
15November 4Calgary3 – 6Boston9–4–220Recap
16November 6Calgary4 – 3Montreal10–4–222Recap
17November 9Los Angeles3 – 4Calgary11–4–224Recap
18November 11Anaheim4 – 5Calgary12–4–226Recap
19November 13Vancouver3 – 4Calgary13–4–228Recap
20November 15Winnipeg2 – 7Calgary14–4–230Recap
21November 18Calgary3 – 3St. LouisOT14–4–331Recap
22November 20Calgary3 – 4Dallas14–5–331Recap
23November 22Anaheim2 – 1Calgary14–6–331Recap
24November 24Toronto3 – 5Calgary15–6–333Recap
25November 26Chicago6 – 3Calgary15–7–333Recap
26November 30Dallas2 – 2CalgaryOT15–7–434Recap :
December: 5–7–2 (home: 4–3–0; road: 1–4–2)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTRecordPtsRecap
27December 4Philadelphia0 – 6Calgary16–7–436Recap
28December 6Calgary6 – 1Ottawa17–7–438Recap
29December 7Calgary4 – 4QuebecOT17–7–539Recap
30December 10Calgary2 – 6Buffalo17–8–539Recap
31December 11Calgary1 – 3Toronto17–9–539Recap
32December 14Vancouver4 – 8Calgary18–9–541Recap
33December 17St. Louis4 – 3Calgary18–10–541Recap
34December 18Winnipeg4 – 5CalgaryOT19–10–543Recap
35December 20Los Angeles5 – 4CalgaryOT19–11–543Recap
36December 22Calgary3 – 7Edmonton19–12–543Recap
37December 23Calgary3 – 4Vancouver19–13–543Recap
38December 28Calgary3 – 3San JoseOT19–13–644Recap
39December 30Edmonton1 – 7Calgary20–13–646Recap
40December 31Montreal5 – 2Calgary20–14–646Recap :
January: 4–5–3 (home: 2–2–2; road: 2–3–1)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTRecordPtsRecap
41January 2Calgary3 – 4St. LouisOT20–15–646Recap
42January 5Calgary4 – 1NY Rangers21–15–648Recap
43January 7Calgary2 – 6NY Islanders21–16–648Recap
44January 8Calgary2 – 2Pittsburgh21–16–749Recap
45January 11Quebec0 – 1Calgary22–16–751Recap
46January 15Ottawa0 – 10Calgary23–16–753Recap
47January 17Calgary2 – 3San Jose23–17–753Recap
48January 19Calgary4 – 3Vancouver24–17–755Recap
49January 24Los Angeles3 – 3CalgaryOT24–17–856Recap
50January 26Dallas3 – 2Calgary24–18–856Recap
51January 28New Jersey2 – 2CalgaryOT24–18–957Recap
52January 29St. Louis5 – 3Calgary24–19–957Recap :
February: 8–3–1 (home: 4–2–0; road: 4–1–1)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTRecordPtsRecap
53February 2Calgary4 – 2Anaheim25–19–959Recap
54February 5Calgary5 – 4Los AngelesOT26–19–961Recap
55February 7Edmonton3 – 4Calgary27–19–963Recap
56February 9Calgary1 – 6Edmonton28–19–965Recap
57February 11Hartford1 – 4Calgary29–19–967Recap
58February 12Toronto2 – 3Calgary30–19–969Recap
59February 14Chicago4 – 2Calgary30–20–969Recap
60February 18Calgary2 – 4Dallas30–21–969Recap
61February 20Calgary5 – 2Winnipeg31–21–971Recap
62February 22Calgary4 – 4VancouverOT31–21–1072Recap
63February 24Tampa Bay4 – 0Calgary31–22–1072Recap
64February 26Los Angeles2 – 4Calgary32–22–1074Recap :
March: 6–5–2 (home: 3–1–1; road: 3–4–1)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTRecordPtsRecap
65March 1Calgary2 – 5Detroit32–23–1074Recap
66March 3Calgary2 – 4Chicago32–24–1074Recap
67March 5Calgary3 – 6New Jersey32–25–1074Recap
68March 6Calgary4 – 4WashingtonOT32–25–1175Recap
69March 9Detroit5 – 1Calgary32–26–1175Recap
70March 11Florida2 – 4Calgary33–26–1177Recap
71March 12San Jose0 – 2Calgary34–26–1179Recap
72March 15Calgary7 – 3Tampa Bay35–26–1181Recap
73March 16Calgary1 – 2Florida35–27–1181Recap
74March 20Calgary6 – 3Toronto36–27–1183Recap
75March 22NY Rangers4 – 4Calgary36–27–1284Recap
76March 26Pittsburgh3 – 5Calgary37–27–1286Recap
77March 31Calgary4 – 1Philadelphia38–27–1288Recap :
April: 4–2–1 (home: 3–0–0; road: 1–2–1)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTRecordPtsRecap
78April 2Calgary3 – 3Detroit38–27–1389Recap
79April 3Calgary1 – 2Chicago38–28–1389Recap
80April 6Anaheim2 – 4Calgary39–28–1391Recap
81April 8San Jose2 – 5Calgary40–28–1393Recap
82April 9Detroit2 – 4Calgary41–28–1395Recap
83April 11Calgary3 – 0Anaheim42–28–1397Recap
84April 13Calgary4 – 6Los Angeles42–29–1397Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point) :

### Playoffs

1994 Stanley Cup playoffs :
Western Conference Quarterfinals vs. Vancouver Canucks (7) – Vancouver wins 4–3
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTAttendanceSeriesRecap
1April 18Vancouver5 – 0Calgary17,764Vancouver leads 1–0Recap
2April 20Vancouver5 – 7Calgary18,318Series tied 1–1Recap
3April 22Calgary4 – 2Vancouver16,150Calgary leads 2–1Recap
4April 24Calgary3 – 2Vancouver16,150Calgary leads 3–1Recap
5April 26Vancouver2 – 1CalgaryOT19,059Calgary leads 3–2Recap
6April 28Calgary2 – 3VancouverOT16,150Series tied 3–3Recap
7April 30Vancouver4 – 3Calgary2OT20,230Vancouver wins 4–3Recap :
Legend:
  Win
  Loss :

## Player statistics
### Skaters

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Player | # | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Robert Reichel | 26 | 84 | 40 | 53 | 93 | 58 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Theoren Fleury | 14 | 83 | 40 | 45 | 85 | 186 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 5 |
| Gary Roberts | 10 | 71 | 41 | 43 | 84 | 145 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 24 |
| Al MacInnis | 2 | 75 | 28 | 54 | 82 | 95 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 12 |
| Joe Nieuwendyk | 25 | 64 | 36 | 39 | 75 | 51 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| German Titov | 13 | 76 | 27 | 18 | 45 | 28 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Wes Walz | 17 | 53 | 11 | 27 | 38 | 16 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Kelly Kisio | 11 | 51 | 7 | 23 | 30 | 28 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| Ron Stern | 22 | 71 | 9 | 20 | 29 | 243 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 12 |
| Paul Ranheim | 28 | 67 | 10 | 14 | 24 | 20 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Joel Otto | 29 | 81 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 92 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Michel Petit | 7 | 63 | 2 | 21 | 23 | 110 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Trent Yawney | 18 | 58 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 60 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| Dan Keczmer$^†$ | 39 | 57 | 1 | 20 | 21 | 48 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Gary Suter | 20 | 25 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 20 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Ted Drury | 27 | 34 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 26 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Chris Dahlquist | 5 | 77 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 52 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul Kruse | 12 | 68 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 185 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Michael Nylander$^†$ | 92 | 15 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sandy McCarthy | 15 | 79 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 173 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 |
| Zarley Zalapski$^†$ | 33 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 18 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Frank Musil | 3 | 75 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
| Brad Schlegel | 21 | 26 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 4 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Mike Sullivan$^†$ | 32 | 19 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
| James Patrick$^†$ | 6 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Trevor Kidd | 37 | 31 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Vesa Viitakoski | 32/19 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Len Esau | 36 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Kevin Dahl | 4 | 33 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 23 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Greg Paslawski | 23 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - |
| David Haas | 19 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Guy Larose$^†$ | 42 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Brad Miller | 55/34 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 14 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Lee Norwood | 6 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 16 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Jason Muzzatti | 31 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Jeff Reese | 35 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Mark Freer | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Peter Ahola | 38 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - |
| David Struch | 33 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Kevin Wortman | 34 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Andrei Trefilov | 1 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Mike Vernon | 30 | 48 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
$^†$Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Calgary. Stats reflect time with the Flames only.

### Goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average
| | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Player | # | GP | TOI | W | L | T | GA | SO | GAA | GP | TOI | W | L | GA | SO | GAA |
| Andrei Trefilov | 1 | 11 | 623 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 26 | 2 | 2.50 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Mike Vernon | 30 | 48 | 2798 | 26 | 17 | 5 | 131 | 3 | 2.81 | 7 | 466 | 3 | 4 | 23 | 0 | 2.96 |
| Trevor Kidd | 37 | 31 | 1614 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 85 | 0 | 3.16 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Jeff Reese | 35 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4.62 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Jason Muzzatti | 36 | 1 | 60 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8.00 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
$^†$Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Calgary. Stats reflect time with the Flames only.

## Transactions

The Flames were involved in the following transactions during the 1993–94 season.

### Trades

| Date | Details | Details |
| June 20, 1993 (1993-06-20) | To Hartford WhalersSergei Makarov | To Calgary FlamesFuture Considerations (1993 WSH 4th-round pick (#95 overall)) |
| June 26, 1993 (1993-06-26) | To Washington CapitalsCraig Berube | To Calgary Flames1993 5th-round pick (#121 overall) |
| June 26, 1993 (1993-06-26) | To Washington Capitals1993 7th-round pick (#174 overall) | To Calgary FlamesBrad Schlegel |
| September 2, 1993 (1993-09-02) | To Toronto Maple LeafsTodd Gillingham Paul Holden | To Calgary FlamesJeff Perry Brad Miller |
| October 5, 1993 (1993-10-05) | To Tampa Bay LightningCash | To Calgary FlamesPeter Ahola |
| November 19, 1993 (1993-11-19) | To Hartford WhalersJeff Reese | To Calgary FlamesDan Keczmer Future Considerations |
| January 24, 1994 (1994-01-24) | To Hartford WhalersTodd Harkins | To Calgary FlamesScott Morrow |
| March 10, 1994 (1994-03-10) | To Hartford WhalersGary Suter Paul Ranheim Ted Drury | To Calgary FlamesMichael Nylander James Patrick Zarley Zalapski |

## Draft picks

Calgary's picks at the 1993 NHL entry draft, held in Quebec City, Quebec.
| Rnd | Pick | Player | Nationality | Position | Team (league) | NHL statistics | NHL statistics | NHL statistics | NHL statistics | NHL statistics |
| Rnd | Pick | Player | Nationality | Position | Team (league) | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1 | 18 | Jesper Mattsson | Sweden | RW | Malmö Redhawks (SEL) | | | | | |
| 2 | 44 | Jamie Allison | Canada | D | Detroit Jr. Red Wings (OHL) | 372 | 7 | 23 | 30 | 639 |
| 3 | 70 | Dan Tompkins | United States | F | Omaha Lancers (USHL) | | | | | |
| 4 | 95 | Jason Smith | Canada | D | Princeton (NCAA) | | | | | |
| 4 | 96 | Marty Murray | Canada | C | Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) | 261 | 31 | 42 | 73 | 41 |
| 5 | 121 | Darryl LaFrance | Canada | RW | Oshawa Generals (OHL) | | | | | |
| 5 | 122 | John Emmons | United States | C | Yale University (NCAA) | 85 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 64 |
| 6 | 148 | Andreas Karlsson | Sweden | C | Leksands IF (SEL) | 264 | 16 | 35 | 51 | 72 |
| 8 | 200 | Derek Sylvester | United States | RW | Niagara Falls Thunder (OHL) | | | | | |
| 10 | 252 | German Titov | Russia | C | Voskresensk Khimik (RSL) | 624 | 157 | 220 | 377 | 311 |
| 11 | 278 | Burke Murphy | Canada | RW | St. Lawrence University (NCAA) | | | | | |

## Farm teams
### Saint John Flames

The 1993–94 American Hockey League season was the first for the Flames top minor league affiliate as the new expansion team was created in Saint John, New Brunswick. The Flames posted a respectable 37–33–10 record in their first season, good enough for second in the Atlantic division. They fell to the Moncton Hawks in seven games in the first round of the playoffs, however. Cory Stillman led the Flames with 35 goals, while Mark Freer lead with 86 points. Jason Muzzatti was the starting goaltender, posting a 26–23–3 record with a 3.74 GAA in 51 games.