Quote:
Originally Posted by FBI
5 pts in last 4 games? 20/45=65?
oh he will probably get some games off though..
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I don't know about that. Unlike say the Rangers and Canadiens, who are all but guaranteed to play each other, the Flames still lots of movement left. In fact, SportsClubStats gives them 22% chance to play the Hawks, 39% chance to play the Ducks, 31% chance to play the Oilers, and 8% chance to play the Sharks. With home-ice advantage still to be determined against the Pacific teams. Going 4-0 gives them a 75% chance of having home ice going into the playoffs, going 0-4 has them 90% chance of playing the Hawks in the first round.
The first goal is obviously staying ahead of Nashville/St. Louis so they don't have to play the Hawks. They are currently up 3 points on Nashville, but Nashville has a game in hand. So there's not a lot of room there currently to have resting games.
And their remaining games are against the Ducks, Ducks, Kings, Sharks. If they were to miraculously win their next 2 against the Ducks, (depending on how the Ducks-Oiler game goes tomorrow) they could be tied in points with the tiebreaking ROW going into the final 2 games. And even if things don't go their way, and they aren't chasing the Ducks, or the Oilers, it's very possible that the last game of the season against the Sharks could have playoff ramifications on who finishes third in the division, which could be the difference of playing the Oilers/Ducks or the Hawks.
Things will probably look a little bit clearer when they do end up playing the Sharks, and maybe they will just want to rest the core group and leave it up to fate on who they play, but I can't see anybody sitting for multiple games for sure.