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 . 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 . Player stats . Skaters . " Note : GP = Games played ; G = Goals ; A = Assists ; Pts = Points ; PIM = Penalty minutes " 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 " 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 . Draft picks . Calgary ' s picks at the 1993 NHL Entry Draft , held in Quebec City , Quebec . 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 an 26 – 23 – 3 record with a 3 . 74 GAA in 51 games .