Quote:
Originally Posted by Flash Walken
It's taken a month for the flames to make up a 1 point deficit in behind 8th.
On February 4th, the Flames were 5 points back of 6th (3 teams tied) with 2 games in hand.
They are now 4 points back of 6th with 1 game in hand, 4 points back of 8th (two teams tied) with 2 games in hand.
Lots of teams around/ahead of the flames have gained or lost ground but the Flames are mostly stagnant.
4 points may not look like much, but half way into the season, it's likely insurmountable without any inter-conference games.
Calgary is now going to be playing a ton of games against teams ahead of them that are doing their own scrambling to get ahead. at 5-4-1 in their last 10, the Flames are lagging behind the Stars at 5-4-1 and the Wild at 6-3-1.
Phoenix, the 9th place team is also 6-3-1 in their last 10 and is 3 points up on Calgary having played one more game. With a goal differential of +3, I think it's far more likely that Phoenix finishes in the playoffs than Calgary with their -11 differential.
The LA Kings, only one position up from Calgary in the standings are 7-3-0 in their last ten and are 2 points up on Calgary with a game in hand.
4 Points is a lot.
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It is worth noting that the Flames have missed their starting goaltender (arguably their best, or at least most important, player) for this entire month.
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"Life of Russian hockey veterans is very hard," said Soviet hockey star Sergei Makarov. "Most of them don't have enough to eat these days. These old players are Russian legends."
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