Becoming Oilers vs Blues/Kings/Preds in wildcard race

[Flamescuprun2018]

With the Kings resurgence and lackluster play for Jets/Canucks/Stars it is beginning to look like a 2 horse race for the 2nd wildcard between Flames and Blues.

WILD CARD W L OTL PTS GP ROW SOW SOL HOME AWAY
Kings 27 21 4 58 52 26 1 3 15-8-1 12-13-3
Flames 27 24 3 57 54 25 2 2 14-13-0 13-11-3
Blues 25 22 5 55 52 24 1 1 17-9-4 8-13-1

We have more 3 home games left than the Blues and have played 5 more away games than the Blues.

We have one game left against them in St. Louis March 25th.

Flames have 14th toughest schedule down the stretch while the Blues have 30th toughtest schedule.

Source: http://www.playoffstatus.com/nhl/westernsosrg.html#sflx

Flames projecting for 87 points and 13-11-4 down the stretch.
Blues projecting for 88 points and 15-12-3 down the stretch.

Source: http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHL/W...c/Calgary.html
http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHL/W...l/StLouis.html

[dissentowner]

By 30th does that mean the Blues have the easiest schedule left in the NHL?

[Flamescuprun2018]

Yes Blues have easiest schedule amongst remaining games.

[memphusk]

Nothing's easy without goaltending.

[Flamescuprun2018]

Originally Posted by memphusk

Nothing's easy without goaltending.

Hoping that the "win and your in" is the recipe. So far so good.

[malcolmk14]

Still a lot of hockey left to go, I firmly believe it's still a pack of 7 teams fighting for those last few spots.

Likely in the playoffs:

Minnesota, Chicago
Anaheim, Edmonton, San Jose

Fighting for playoff spots

Nashville 58 points (*3rd in Central)
---
Los Angeles 58 points
Calgary 57 points
---
St Louis 55 points
Winnipeg 54 points
Vancouver 52 points
Dallas 52 points

The Flames have 10 of their 28 games remaining against those other 6 teams. 4 of those games are against Los Angeles. Those games will prove to be huge down the stretch.

Feb 18 @ Vancouver
Feb 21 @ Nashville
Feb 28 vs Los Angeles
Mar 11 @ Winnipeg
Mar 17 vs Dallas
Mar 19 vs Los Angeles
Mar 23 @ Nashville
Mar 25 @ St Louis
Mar 29 vs Los Angeles
Apr 6 @ Los Angeles

[FBI]

Hopefully those last games against them mean something big just like in 2014-2015.

[ComixZone]

The Elliott Vs. Allen battle continues to rage on.

[EldrickOnIce]

Can expect at least one of those bubble teams to get hot down the stretch, and one to go in the tank.
Cheers to Flames being the former instead of the latter.

[Sylvanfan]

I think LA is about to climb over Edmonton and mount a real charge. Calgary will have to beat out St.Louis to make the playoffs. That will be a tough order with how easy the Blues schedue is.

[Anduril]

Even with an easy schedule, Blues have yet to get their goaltending figured out. That's probably going to be the reason why we pass them in the end.

[Robbob]

I am starting to think that the Oilers may still be a target. A lot of their stretch will depend on Talbot, whom they have been riding hard. If he struggles at all I don't think it would be that hard to get 3 more wins and a loser point more than them in the final 28 games.

I think we are still in a 5 horse race with all the games left.

[Enoch Root]

I posted this in another thread, but it belongs here:

I agree - there's no way Van can step it up a notch and actually pass the other teams.

Getting in will require stepping it up down the stretch. Two teams (at least) will be able to do so. IMO, I would rank the likelihood of it happening as follows:

LA - I would be shocked if they don't get in, wouldn't surprise me if they catch the Oilers
STL - not guaranteed, but they still have a pretty deep team
CAL - team Jeckle and Hyde has the horses but do they have the consistency?
DAL - CAL on steroids: plenty of horses, but you never know what you're gonna get
WPG - capable of getting on a big run, but they'll need goaltending to step up. Unlikely, but possible.
VAN - they just don't have another gear. I expect them to fade and fade badly

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by Robbob

I am starting to think that the Oilers may still be a target. A lot of their stretch will depend on Talbot, whom they have been riding hard. If he struggles at all I don't think it would be that hard to get 3 more wins and a loser point more than them in the final 28 games.

I think we are still in a 5 horse race with all the games left.

Agreed re:Edmonton. I won't give them a pass into the play-offs due to their historical ineptitude the last 10 years. They'll find a way to f-up this.

[calgaryblood]

Way too early to call it a two horse race for a wild card spot.

[dino7c]

LA has one point on Calgary and they play each other multiple times yet they are somehow out of reach?

[Vinny01]

Hilariously early to be declaring this. A week ago the Flames were at risk to falling behind Dallas, Winnipeg, Vancouver. A week where the Flames lose 2-3 and one of those teams wins 2-3 they are right back in it. The Oilers looked unwatchable but in one short week the Flames have gained 6pts on them and could still catch them in the race. Also LA is in the thick of it and not clear of the Flames or Blues.

[sureLoss]

Well the Blues just announced Fabbri is out for the rest of season with an ACL tear and recalled Agostino and Paajarvi FWIW

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Hilariously early to be declaring this. A week ago the Flames were at risk to falling behind Dallas, Winnipeg, Vancouver. A week where the Flames lose 2-3 and one of those teams wins 2-3 they are right back in it. The Oilers looked unwatchable but in one short week the Flames have gained 6pts on them and could still catch them in the race. Also LA is in the thick of it and not clear of the Flames or Blues.

Always

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by Flamescuprun2018

Hoping that the "win and your in" is the recipe. So far so good.

It would feel better if Elliot moved a bit quicker. He sure looked slow last game.