The Calgary Flames are a National Hockey League team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are part of the league's Western Conference, and are one of five teams that make up the Northwest Division, along with the Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks, Minnesota Wild, and Colorado Avalanche. The team's origins can be traced back to 1972 when they formed as the Atlanta Flames in Atlanta, Georgia. After eight seasons in Atlanta, the team moved to its current home in Calgary.

Although the team did not experience much success in Atlanta, the Calgary Flames began to break through in the late 1980's. Led by a group of core players including Al MacInnis, Joel Otto, and fan favourite Lanny McDonald, the Flames reached the Stanley Cup finals in 1986 for the first time, however they were ousted by Patrick Roy and the Montreal Canadiens in five games. Three years later, after an infusion of young talent including Theoren Fleury and Joe Nieuwendyk, the Flames won the President's Trophy in the 1988-1989 season and won their first and only Stanley Cup, defeating the Montreal Canadiens in six games.

Although the team has not won a championship since 1989, the Calgary Flames have once again become a strong contender in recent years. Led by captain Jarome Iginla and goalie Mikka Kiprusoff, the Flames once again reached the Stanley Cup finals in 2004, and have made the playoffs every year since. http://flames.nhl.com/club/page.htm?bcid=his_team_history http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news?slug=calgarypost&prov=st&type=lgnshttp://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/CGY/

The Calgary Flames carried an entire nation on their backs during the 2003-2004 season when they made a remarkable run to the Stanley Cup finals, defeating the Vancouver Canucks, Detroit Red Wings, and San Jose Sharks before suffering a heart-breaking loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the seventh game of the finals. Their unexpected run sparked the formation of The Red Mile, a famous strip along Calgary's 17th Avenue where fans would go to celebrate after every playoff game.

Despite making the playoffs every year since 2004, the Flames have been unable to progress past the first round. Most recently during the 2008-2009 season, the Flames drew a tough quarterfinal match-up against the Chicago Blackhawks after finishing fifth in the Western Conference. Led by emerging young stars Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, the Blackhawks defeated the Flames in six games, 4-2.http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news?slug=calgarypost&prov=st&type=lgns http://www.theredmile.ca/

• 2009: Lost to the Chicago Blackhawks, 4-2, in the NHL Western Conference quarterfinals
• 2008: Lost to the San Jose Sharks, 4-3, in the Western Conference quarterfinals
• 2007: Lost to the Detroit Red Wings, 4-2, in the Western Conference quarterfinals
• 2006: Lost to the Anaheim Ducks, 4-3, in the Western Conference quarterfinals
• 2004: Lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning, 4-3, in the Stanley Cup finals
• Defeated the San Jose Sharks, 4-2, in the NHL Western Conference finals
• Defeated the Detroit Red Wings, 4-2, in the NHL Western Conference semifinals
• Defeated the Vancouver Canucks, 4-3, in the Western Conference quarterfinals

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