Quote:
Originally Posted by COGENT
It's Chicago's best start in History...
Yup, not using it as an excuse and yes, the Flames just aren't that good. I just think comparing this season to a regular start just isn't a balanced comparison.
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While there are always anomalous starts and unsustainable selections of play, the meat is that with a game in hand, Calgary is 7 points back of the division leader and with 2 games in hand, are 4 points back of Minnesota, Dallas, Edmonton and st. louis. So there are 4 teams ahead of the Flames that can be caught with games in hand. Is it likely they will catch all 4? No. Will they catch 2, maybe in 3? With my luck as a fan, probably.
The team that just beat Calgary, Minnesota, has 7 new players in their lineup this year, which included blowing it all up last year prior to the deadline to get 2 'franchise players' that they now build around.
Even then though, that still only puts them on the cusp of the playoffs. Playoff perennials and contenders are way up there, even after going through some unpleasantness of their own (San Jose winless in their last 5, Detroit decimated by injuries, Vancouver playing without a second line).
Now, if you compare their start to their own sample size of the previous 3 years...it's not favourable.