Calgary hockey fans may have new playoff loyalties with Flames doused again

Despite a final push for the playoffs, the Calgary Flames won't have a shot at the Stanley Cup for a third straight year. Where does that leave fans?

The Stanley Cup playoffs are well underway, once again, without the Calgary Flames.

Despite a late-season surge, the team fell short of securing a spot, leaving many local supporters disappointed.

But five other Canadian teams are vying for Lord Stanley’s mug.

The Cat and Fiddle Pub along 16th Avenue N.W. has turned Toronto blue for the post-season.

Toronto Maple Leafs flags are proudly flying outside the pub, which in large part is down to manager Christopher Lewis.

“Well, primarily we would be a Flames bar, normally, but we all know how that went,” said Lewis.

With 16 television screens broadcasting every playoff matchup, the Cat and Fiddle is embracing post-season hockey.

While all games will be shown, Lewis admits a clear leaning toward Maple Leafs games.

“There’s not a bad seat in the house,” he said.

“We wanted to focus more on just one team because I think a lot of other bars were focusing on all Canadian teams. We wanted to go a different way and try and focus on one.”

The Montreal Canadiens clinched a playoff spot in their final game of the regular season.

The “Battle of Ontario” between the Ottawa Senators and the Maple Leafs is already heating up.

The league leaders during the regular season, the Winnipeg Jets, lead St. Louis 2-0 in their first-round series.

Calgary’s northern neighbours and heated rivals, the Edmonton Oilers, are hopeful of a trip back to the Stanley Cup final, this time reaching the summit.

Murray Schaffer and his friend Luke Wiseman have their eyes on one specific Canadian team.

“Honestly, if I’ve got to go for anyone? I’m going for the Jets,” said Schaffer.

“I would root for the Jets. Or a Calgarian player,” said Wiseman.

Schaffer says he is unable to throw his Flames loyalty aside to support the provincial rival.

“I just can’t cheer for the Oilers,” he said.

“I mean, I’ve got to take somebody else. I can’t bring myself to cheer for the Oilers.”

Despite the Flames’ absence, playoff hockey remains a big boost for local business.

“The further a certain team goes, it gets busier,” said Lewis.

“The first round is usually a quieter round, and everybody starts getting more interested as it goes.”

The Vancouver Canucks were the only other Canadian team to miss the playoffs this year.