Although the Oilers and Flames usually finished at or near the top of the Campbell Conference, the NHL's playoff structure of the time made it very likely the Flames would meet the Oilers in either the first or second round, rather than in Campbell Conference finals.
Aínda que os Oilers e os Flames frecuentemente finalizaron á cabeza ou preto da cabeza da Compbell Conference, a estrutura dos play-offs da NHL daquela facía moi probable que os Flames e os Oilers se encontraran na primeira ou segunda rolda, en lugar de enfrontarse na final da Conferencia.