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Resolute 14 · 12-05-2014, 07:27 AM

...or why tomorrow night is the most important game of the season for the Flames to this point.

We've all gone back and forth on whether this team is capable of making the playoffs, and I think the next 12 games will definitively answer that question. We are entering a critical stretch against some very good teams - Pittsburgh, Chicago, Vancouver, LA x2, and teams that are really pressing themselves - Toronto, San Jose, New York, Dallas. Two against an Edmonton team that would love nothing more than to knock us down. And many of these difficult games are on the road.

The playoff format, however, adds some wrinkles to the situation. We are already seeing the playoff picture clarify, and when I look at the standings, I see two different battles between two teams for one spot each. Things are shaping up into a scenario where each division probably puts four teams into the playoffs. In the Central, a fading Jets team is battling a surging Wild team for their spot. Colorado or Dallas might pull themselves up into the battle, but they are already in deep holes.

In the Pacific, it is safe to say Vancouver and Anaheim will be in, and Edmonton and Arizona are done. The LA Kings are the LA Kings. They will be there in the end. That puts the battle for one spot between the Flames and the Sharks. We currently have a healthy six point lead with both teams having played 27 games. Unfortunately, while we have been beating Western teams this week, Boston and Philly have gone into San Jose and laid down for the Sharks.

Which makes tomorrow's contest critically important. An eight-point lead heading out on this road trip would be huge. It also puts us in the catbird seat in terms of a tiebreaker. A four point lead makes things a little dicey, especially since the Sharks get the Oilers back to back right after. After that, their schedule is no easier than ours, save for the fact that most of their December games are at home.

The Flames are defying the odds and making believers out of people. I'm still on the fence myself, but it is becoming easier and easier to accept that this squad really can make the post-season. It will be a dogfight right to the end, but if we still have a lead on the Sharks come January 1, we will definitely be in the drivers' seat.

12-05-2014, 07:27 AM	#1
Resolute 14 In the Sin Bin Join Date: Jan 2003 Exp:	Two teams, one playoff spot ...or why tomorrow night is the most important game of the season for the Flames to this point. We've all gone back and forth on whether this team is capable of making the playoffs, and I think the next 12 games will definitively answer that question. We are entering a critical stretch against some very good teams - Pittsburgh, Chicago, Vancouver, LA x2, and teams that are really pressing themselves - Toronto, San Jose, New York, Dallas. Two against an Edmonton team that would love nothing more than to knock us down. And many of these difficult games are on the road. The playoff format, however, adds some wrinkles to the situation. We are already seeing the playoff picture clarify, and when I look at the standings, I see two different battles between two teams for one spot each. Things are shaping up into a scenario where each division probably puts four teams into the playoffs. In the Central, a fading Jets team is battling a surging Wild team for their spot. Colorado or Dallas might pull themselves up into the battle, but they are already in deep holes. In the Pacific, it is safe to say Vancouver and Anaheim will be in, and Edmonton and Arizona are done. The LA Kings are the LA Kings. They will be there in the end. That puts the battle for one spot between the Flames and the Sharks. We currently have a healthy six point lead with both teams having played 27 games. Unfortunately, while we have been beating Western teams this week, Boston and Philly have gone into San Jose and laid down for the Sharks. Which makes tomorrow's contest critically important. An eight-point lead heading out on this road trip would be huge. It also puts us in the catbird seat in terms of a tiebreaker. A four point lead makes things a little dicey, especially since the Sharks get the Oilers back to back right after. After that, their schedule is no easier than ours, save for the fact that most of their December games are at home. The Flames are defying the odds and making believers out of people. I'm still on the fence myself, but it is becoming easier and easier to accept that this squad really can make the post-season. It will be a dogfight right to the end, but if we still have a lead on the Sharks come January 1, we will definitely be in the drivers' seat.