The Flames have quietly raised their Pacific Division banner

On Tuesday night, the Scotiabank Saddledome hosted its first Calgary Flames home game since the club was eliminated in the first round of the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs. Prominently displayed from the rafters was a banner commemorating the club’s 2018-19 Pacific Division crown.

Historically, the Flames have raised their banners with much pomp and circumstance. But since it’s already up in the rafters, we can assume that there probably won’t be a huge hubbub made about it at the home opener on Oct. 5 (aside from perhaps some B-roll on Sportsnet while they discuss the season). Derek Wills’ tweet probably gets to the root of it – it was the Flames’ best regular season in 30 years, but it was also one of their most crushing playoff disappointments.

Regardless of what preceded it, it seems prudent to avoid celebrating the disappointment.