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The Calgary Flames, squinting from under their white hats, played the role of unflinching heroes.

Cast as bewildered bad guys? The Boston Bruins.

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Check out last winter’s doublebill:

* Feb. 16 — Trailing 3-0 at the Saddledome, the Flames rally fully, setting the stage for T.J. Brodie’s overtime tally in a 4-3 win

* March 5 — The Flames, in the midst of a seven-game junket, gamely keep pace. Kris Russell blocks an NHL-record 15 shots and David Schlemko issues that shootout dazzler in a 4-3 win

Remember those guys?

Dougie Hamilton does.

“The biggest thing — just their relentless attack,” Hamilton says of facing those Flames. “The forecheck was tough. The forwards were skating hard at all times and you didn’t have much time to make plays.

“But I guess that’s not really what it’s like right now.”

No, not even close.

Because, at 1-5-0, the Flames do not resemble the 2014-15 bunch.

Hamilton, like everyone else in the city, is trying to make sense of the abrupt downturn, the season-crimping contrast between then and now.