Sean Monahan hopes this postseason goes a lot differently for the Calgary Flames than last year's.
"We got embarrassed last year in the postseason," Monahan said Wednesday, according to Sportsnet's Eric Francis. "As a player representing an organization, that sticks with you. We've got a lot to prove here and we have a lot of things motivating us."
The Flames were the top seed in the Western Conference entering last season's playoffs and faced off against the Colorado Avalanche. Calgary lost the series in just five games.
After serving as one of the most dominant lines during the regular season, Monahan, Johnny Gaudreau, and Elias Lindholm combined for just two goals, three assists, and a minus-6 rating during the series.
"We've talked about it a lot - and a lot behind closed doors - we got outworked and outcompeted and got owned by Colorado," Monahan added. "You want to be a guy who can be a part of the postseason and that's where a lot of guys' legacies are built. That's the kind of guys we want to be, and we want to step up and take charge in Game 1."
Monahan, who produced 34 goals and 82 points last season, managed 22 goals and 48 points this year. Meanwhile, Gaudreau dipped from 99 points to 58, and Lindholm from 78 to 54.
"Last year was my first appearance in the playoffs and overall our line didn't do a very good job," Lindholm said. "For myself, I kind of got away from my game and started doing other things and tried to hit people. It's part of my game, but not something I'm looking to do. In the playoffs I was."
The Flames finished the abbreviated 2019-20 regular season in fourth place in the Pacific Division with a 36-27-7 record. They are set to take on the Winnipeg Jets in the best-of-five play-in round.
