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They were supposed to be Canada’s best shot at finally bringing home the Stanley Cup. Instead, they didn’t even get out of the first round, losing in five games to the 16th-seeded Colorado Avalanche.

“It still sits with you,” said Monahan. “It’s a memory that’s in the back of your head. If you look at the season we had with the team success going into the playoffs, obviously all the individual success with guys having career years, that doesn’t happen by fluke.

“If you go into the playoffs and you don’t really show up and make the most of it, that hurts.”

When asked what happened to the Flames in the post-season, Monahan chalked it up to bad timing. While Calgary had a playoff spot pretty much locked up by Christmas, Colorado was playing for its lives up until the final week of the season. When the teams met, it was clear that one was sharper than the other.

Calgary, a team that scored the second-most goals in the regular season, found the back of the net seven times in the last four games. Mike Smith, who won the starting job over David Rittich once the playoffs began, allowed 17 goals.

Of course, it was the Flames’ top line that received the most criticism. Monahan, Johnny Gaudreau and Elias Lindholm had combined for 97 goals and 259 points in the regular season. In the playoffs, Monahan and Lindholm each had a goal in the series. Gaudreau had just one assist.

“You have to peak at the right time in the NHL or you’re not going to win too many games,” said Monahan. “We didn’t peak at the right time and that showed against Colorado.”