… the Flames finish second in the Western Conference before a magical playoff run ends with them beating the New York Rangers to win the Stanley Cup.

Newcomer Alex Tanguay wins the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, but it’s captain Jarome Iginla who really makes the Flames burn.

Iggy scores a league-best 63 goals and 125 points in the regular season and ensures this trip to the NHL final doesn’t end in heartbreak, as it did in 2004.

It’s enough to help rookie coach Jim Playfair win the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year at an NHL awards ceremony high on Calgary content. Tanguay (Hart Trophy, Lady Byng), Miikka Kiprusoff (Vezina Trophy) and Robyn Regehr (Norris Trophy) are all finalists for major trophies.

The Habs are the best of the rest in Canada, finishing seventh in the Eastern Conference thanks in large part to a strong performance by captain Saku Koivu. But then Montreal loses in the first round to the Buffalo Sabres.

Ottawa, Edmonton, Vancouver and Toronto don’t make the playoffs.

Computer simulation pegs Flames to win Stanley Cup

Done deal.