Playoffs? PLAYOFFS?!?

[Two Fivenagame]

They have to play over .600 hockey the rest of the way JUST to make 90 pts.

They done.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by getbak

If they break the curse next week, I'll believe they can do anything.

[Caged Great]

Its a slim razor that they were on prior to last night's game. A win and they'd only be three points out with a game against one of the teams they're chasing on Friday.

Instead with the loss, they remain 5 points back of Vancouver and are 3 points behind the next closest team. They remain a single point ahead of Columbus and two ahead of Edmonton, the only two teams they lead.

The only saving grace thus far this season is that our entire division is terrible. If Anaheim begins to rebound after kicking the Flames around, then it makes it all the more difficult to make up ground. They trail the other two in the division by at least 9 points. Not going to happen.

[jar_e]

All this talk about needing to win in our division but our division record right now is 2-3 and we still haven't played the top two teams in our division yet.

The common mantra is what the standings are by this weekend, American Thanksgiving, are incredibly reflective on what the standings will be by the end of the season. We are quickly entering Oiler and requiring a miracle territory statistically to make the playoffs.

[Lanny'sDaMan]

I'm calling it now. Playoffs are a non starter for this year's version of the Flames. There is just so much wrong with this team that, as much as I have hope, they simply won't be able to get it going. Won't stop me from standings watching until it's a mathematical reality though.

[polak]

Every time they take a step forward they take a massive #### on our hopes the next game.

Barring a successful shake up that wakes up this team, the season is probably going to be more of the same. Crap stretches followed by a promising win here and there.

Basically how last season was expected to go but with no valuable vets that we can trade for younger players.

fun.

[direwolf]

I don't see how this team makes the playoffs now, especially after the dumpster fire we witnessed in Anaheim. We were really spoiled last year. I just don't understand how this team became so unbelievably awful over a span of one summer. Aside from the additions of Frolik and Hamilton, it's basically the same squad. It's absolutely baffling and really f'n frustrating. I still have hope that they can somehow right the ship and go on a miracle run...but it's looking less and less likely now.

[Sainters7]

The craziest is just how bad of a 3rd period team they've become this year, it's like the bizarro version of last year's team. Saw this on Twitter by Darren Haynes after the loss to Anaheim:

"Flames have taken a lead 20 times this year. They've only kept that lead three times. In other words, they've blown a lead 17 times. Awful."

And it's not even December yet..

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

Flames have taken a lead 20 times this year. They've only kept that lead three times. In other words, they've blown a lead 17 times. Awful."

This is a meaningless number. To make it meaningful, we would have to know what the league-wide average is for number of lead changes per game.

The very phrase ‘blown a lead’ is misleading. It implies that there is some correct way of playing to guarantee that a team with the lead will never lose it. If that were the case, every game between competent professionals would end 1-0. All you would have to do to win is score one goal and then not blow the lead.

Needless to say, it doesn't work that way. Just because one team has the lead and then the other team gets it, does not necessarily mean that anyone blew it.

[Mr.Coffee]

All the stats and numbers aside for a minute, the thing is, do they really deserve to make playoffs?

It's not even a realistic discussion until they can string a large win streak together and show material change to how they play the game night in and night out. Until that part changes, why bother even talking about it?

[heep223]

I haven't looked at the standings in weeks. It hurts too much.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

This is a meaningless number. To make it meaningful, we would have to know what the league-wide average is for number of lead changes per game.

The very phrase ‘blown a lead’ is misleading. It implies that there is some correct way of playing to guarantee that a team with the lead will never lose it. If that were the case, every game between competent professionals would end 1-0. All you would have to do to win is score one goal and then not blow the lead.

Needless to say, it doesn't work that way. Just because one team has the lead and then the other team gets it, does not necessarily mean that anyone blew it.

'Blowing 17 leads might be misleading, but only keeping 3 leads after a quarter of the season is not misleading. Its awful.

[flylock shox]

They're 7 points out of a playoff spot, so by no means done.

But the way they're playing - the way they've played for over a quarter of a season now - provides little hope they'll manage to catch up.

The only bright spot is that they should avoid some silly contracts at season's end, ones that they might have signed had the team performed well again.

I expect we'll see at least one big trade from the back-end early in the new year. It won't save the season, but will begin a significant restructuring of the team that should continue through next summer.

Right now, I just wish the games were entertaining.

[Petert]

Can we have Brian McGrattan back in some kind of coaching position?
What is he doing right now anyway?

Maybe he was indeed providing the differences of mental preparations.

[tvp2003]

Following tonight, I think we have our answer. They won't be mathematically eliminated for awhile longer, but there is little to suggest a top three finish is in the cards this year.

Happy to be proven wrong...

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

Following tonight, I think we have our answer. They won't be mathematically eliminated for awhile longer, but there is little to suggest a top three finish is in the cards this year.

Happy to be proven wrong...

Not catching LA or SJ. Just have to beat out Anaheim (ignoring the rest). Doable.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

Not catching LA or SJ. Just have to beat out Anaheim (ignoring the rest). Doable.

Coyotes won again tonight as well. Sorry man its just not gonna happen this year.

[Pointman]

[kirant]

Originally Posted by Petert

Can we have Brian McGrattan back in some kind of coaching position?
What is he doing right now anyway?

On Anaheim's AHL team. If memory serves, he wants to stop fighting...though that's yet to be seen as he's had 3 this year. Two, from what I looked at, were staged fights.

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

Coyotes won again tonight as well. Sorry man its just not gonna happen this year.

Yes, it was a joke.