SAN JOSE – The captain gave a speech and the staff handed out hats and shirts commemorating the accomplishment.
A Calgary Flames dressing room that was eerily silent before the game was transformed into a lively hub of handshakes, high-fives, hugs and cheers following a win for the ages.
For the first time in 13 years, Calgary won the Pacific Division thanks to a 5-3 win Sunday over a San Jose club that has long been chasing the Flames.
For the first time in 29 years – and the fourth time in franchise lore – the Flames have been crowned kings of the conference.
A momentous occasion for a squad that not only missed the playoffs last season, but has spent the better part of the last three decades watching spring hockey on TV.
“I’ve been here a long time and it’s tough enough to make it to the playoffs,” said Sean Monahan, clutching the hat and t-shirt distributed after the game identifying the Flames as division champs.
“So I think to do what we did is pretty special and it’s something that you’ll always remember. We have a lot of work ahead of us. As a group, we know what we’re in for.
“We’ve got a lot of guys in this room who want to prove something and do something in this league, so I think this is an important year for this team.”
No one has been more important to the team’s turnaround than captain Mark Giordano, who punctuated the emotional win by giving a short speech to the team, earning him a loud ovation that could be heard in the hallway afterwards.
“I thought it was appropriate that he address the team – it’s usually me but I think it was appropriate he did it tonight,” said coach Bill Peters, who directed the team’s turnaround after jumping from Carolina to Calgary last summer.
“The player of the game award went to Gio. He’s just there. Whatever needs to be done he’s the guy doing it.”
Proudly sporting the commemorative red t-shirt and the Calgary police hat as the game’s star, the 35-year-old Giordano said the team clinched the regular season titles the right way.
“It feels a lot better when you win your way into these positions,” said the Norris trophy frontrunner, whose club scored three goals in 75 seconds late in the first period to break the game open.
“We’ve had a good year, a good regular season, but we know the work lies ahead in the playoffs. But we won’t take this for granted. It’s an accomplishment by our team to finish first in the West. Obviously, not an easy thing to do. So we’ll enjoy it, but we’ll get geared up now for the playoffs.”
At age 37, Mike Smith seemed to take stock of the celebration as much as anyone, pointing out such accomplishments are rare, and often fleeting.
“Just a great feeling and somewhat a sense of relief,” said Smith, who had to make just a dozen saves as his 105-point team dominated in front of him.
“Also an excitement that this doesn’t come around every year. It’s hard to get to the top. The Western Conference is a tough conference. To get where we are with these guys says a lot about this group and the resiliency of this group.
We’re not taking it lightly for sure. We know what’s ahead – we know there’s a bigger end goal. But definitely this is special and you won’t forget this for as long as you live.”
Pegged by most hockey minds as one of the teams most likely to be fighting for a late wild-card berth this season, the Flames overcame shaky goaltending to start the season to become a model of consistency.
Blessed with increased depth added last summer by GM Brad Treliving, the Flames took turns riding the wave of its top line, its goaltending and its depth forwards, all of whom contributed throughout their unlikely run to the top of the West.
Yet, everyone in the room knows they’ve accomplished little in the grand scheme of things.
“We understand that,” said Smith, whose club will ice a skeleton squad for the final three, meaningless games, starting Monday in Los Angeles.
“We know there’s a lot more hard work to be done but that being said I think you still have to enjoy it and embrace it and understand everyone is playing for the same thing.
“It’s a special night to clinch and be able to enjoy it and not have it come down to the wire.”
The players and coach spoke afterwards about how quiet the room was as the Flames prepared for a game against their longtime divisional rival.
“It was real business-like here – a quiet confidence,” said Peters, who got goals from five different players, including Monahan, Mark Jankowski, Dalton Prout, Mikael Backlund and Michael Frolik.
“We’re almost to the starting line. Three more games, but I like our team. I like our group.”
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