from Randy Sportak of the Calgary Sun,

The thrilling comebacks, the surprise playoff berth, complete with a trip to the second round of the Stanley Cup tournament after upsetting the rival Vancouver Canucks and high hopes looking forward sure seems like a distant memory these days, doesn't it?

Or a mirage.

It sure isn't anything like the Flames team we've watched this season through more than one-quarter of the season, floundering, stumbling and mired at the bottom of the NHL standings alongside the Edmonton Oilers.

(So much for that 'Battle of Alberta has returned' storyline, eh?)

But reality is setting into the Saddledome as the Flames return from yet another dismal road swing, which started with a whipping at the hands of the Anaheim Ducks and ended with a thrashing at the hands of the San Jose Sharks.

Those very early-season struggles weren't just a poor start from a team which would eventually rebottle the lightning of a year ago. After the first two months of the campaign, it's obvious the Flames are not a good team, and look nothing like a playoff squad.

Just think of the differences, team-wide and individually.

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