Predictions on the remainder of the Flames season!
With 20 games remaining (12 of which will be home games) and with 68 points racked up so far, where do you see (i) the Flames ending up in total points on the season and (ii) will this put them in the playoffs, and if so in what slot?
Here's my prediction.
Given the way this team is now playing, with the 3M line en fuego, Elliott finding his mojo, the top four D spots apparently solidified, and some lagging players now finding the score sheet (Bennett, Brouwer, Ferland) my prediction is the Flames remain on their hot streak here and go 13-5-2 in their last 20 racking 28 of a possible 40 points and ending the season with 96 points and taking the third spot in the Western Conference.
Not an easy schedule when you look at the remaining competition but I believe 2/3s are at home.
It really should be ano exciting final quarter of the season with the flames battling it out with Nashville and the kings, and perhaps a team like the Jets looking to go on a run.
The team is definitely playing good hockey right now and is potentially getting hot at the right time for playoff considerations. The schedule will be tough for the last 10 or 12 games of the season, with mostly games against San Jose/LA/Anaheim.
I predict a 11-7-2 record to finish with a total of 92 points and a wildcard spot. First round opponent will be San Jose.
I expect it will be nail bitter until the very end. The Kings will push us to the limits with the last game against them deciding the playoff spot.
Screw them, they can wallow in their own poop while us and the Preds pull away further and further.
Taking a look at the schedule coming up, the only "Tier 1" opponents we have until the end of March are Washington and Pittsburgh. We seem to have Pittsburgh's number too.
The Islanders, Bruins, and Kings x 2 are potentially teams still fighting for a spot, and they could go either way.
Every other game is reasonably winnable. I'm hoping that we secure a spot a few weeks before that murder row of doubles vs the Californian teams. Rest everyone up and call up the kids to play.
__________________
Until the Flames make the Western Finals again, this signature shall remain frozen.
I may regret saying this but LA honestly doesn't scare me as much as they did in the past. That team struggles with motivation, played decently today but still have been mediacore for a while now. I feel confident the Flames will keep them out of it comes down to their 4 games. 3 at home, Flames control their own destiny which is pretty great considering the terribleness that happened just recently. Also the experience the players got from knocking out the Kings 2 years ago has to be seen as another positive. They know they are good enough to keep them out because they have before. God it would be a great year to break the Honda center curse tho. Unless LA lands a big player at the deadline in confident the Flames will get er done
Predictions on the remainder of the Flames season!
