Can the Calgary Flames Make a Run for the Cup? Or Is Their Streak Just Window Dressing?

Ok, so before last nights game against Gretzky's Coyotes, the Flames were the hottest thing around, truly earning the right to wear the Flaming C. 

Now, one may ask a couple of questions about the Flames. 

One, are they the real deal and can they continue to play like this and win and stay on top of the division and make a real run in the playoffs?

Two, what has them winning now?

And three, probably most important to Flames mangement, is should they be shopping around for anything, or are they good to go as is?

Ok, let me address the first question.  Are they the real deal?  I think they are, but then again I am biased, I am a Flames fan.  But let me claw back for a second and tell you I am skeptical, and that is because again, I am a Flames fan! 

The Flames have always put out good, solid, hard hitting, gritty teams.  That is Flames hockey, and that is the way the franchise has always been.  Does that really work in the regular season? Sure, but to an extent.

Look at Ottawa of past, a great team in the regular season, fast, talented, but lacked the grit.  Come playoffs, they are using that skill on the golf course.  Anaheim last year won with a combination of speed, finess, but also grit. 

Do the Flames have what they need to continue to play like they are?  I don't think so.  I have a bad feeling because lets look at the how the season has gone so far.  The Flames until their recent run weren't so hot.  Why? Iginla was not scoring. 

I hate to say it, but as Iginla goes, so does the Flames.  They just don't have the depth in scoring.  Wait, you say what about Huselius? Sure, he is a big part of the Flames, but even he won't be a guy that will lead the team.  Iginla needs to be there night in, night out, and at his best.  Not that he can't do it, but if he falters a little, so do the Flames. 

They lack that extra bit of punch, just like when they lost to Tampa Bay in the Stanley Cup.  

I guess this ties into the other two questions.  What has them winning now?  Iginla is on fire and controlling the play.  Huselius is scoring.  Kiprusoff is playing well.  He isn't stealing games for the Flames, and he never really does, but he is making that extra save now which is the difference. 

Is he the goalie to win you a Stanley Cup?  On this team, I think the answer is no. 

You need someone who can steal you two games in a seven game series.  Don't take this the wrong way, I am not knocking Kipper at all, I am just saying that with the current Flame team, you need someone who can do it themselves in the net.  

The third question, which is always the tough one, is should they add to the team?  I say yes.  You need another 30-40 goal scorer on the team that can take the pressure off of Iginla.  Right now, you play the Flames in the playoffs and you put your checking line on Iginla.  You shut him down, odds are you win the game.  You need another player to spread out the other teams defense. 

Will the Flames do it?  I don't think so. I hope I am wrong, but I don't see them bringing in someone that can fill that role.  It isn't their character.   

So where do I see the Flames finishing this year?  Second in their division behing the Canucks, and then crashing out in the first or second round of the playoffs to a team with more depth then them.

Hope I am wrong!