[browna]

This will be real tough to be this close, in the playoffs for 3/4 of the season and have it slip away as they run out of gas while other teams keep chugging along. For the players too...as much as the narrative is "wow we did so well compared to the expectations of the league", when you're in a spot for that long, and stumble and trip, it's not that easy to brush it off.

Sure, good story about not supposing to be this far along this quick, but just because the future promises to be bright no matter how this season ends, "promise" also don't mean anything immediately either.

As the 2005-06 Flames roster (and beyond) and fans know, success the prior year + an marked upgrade in talent and youth (Phaneuf) doesn't mean squat a season after a much less talented roster got within inches of a Stanley Cup.

Next year, where, before this year, playoffs would be a more realistic chance, the expectation now is that they will be in, thanks to where they are now. Those expectations have to be managed.
Even though they will upgrade in certain areas, have Bennett, and probably play overall better within the game and game in and game out (such as having two legit scoring lines) so they don't have to come back from 2 or more goals down constantly, that all doesn't guarantee they win more or get to the playoffs. Unfortunately the comparisons to Colorado may well be correct next year. Flames won't sneak up on anyone, you hope the team still responds to Hartley, you hope for some above average goaltending that the Flames had surprisingly for decent stretches this year, you hope that the defenseman are able to stay active as they have this year as far as jumping up and pinches in the zone etc etc.

It will also bring into question Treliving staying pat at the trade deadline...the Gio injury stung, big time, but irritating games like last night and CLB, and the loss of two critical points to teams below them, shows what happen when you have only one legit NHL line that can generate chances, and guys still struggling to figure out what not to do (ie take multiple offensive zone penalties, Colborne), when bringing in some help may have helped that. Plus the team looks just gassed, while LA and WPG are rolling. That NHL roster depth is something that Treliving gambled on not wanting to bring in.

Just a lot of things have gone the Flames away at times this year, so much so that you just think that it was meant to be, no matter how it defied logic...but now it looks slowly slipping away if they don't have enough left to make a final push.

Not writing the eulogy by any means, plenty of hockey to play, and they just have to still be there at the end when they play LA and WPG, and win those games and get into the spot, and give the roster the reward they've earned.

Hope its the case, and hope next year is this year + so much more as far as consistent play, emergence of Monahan as a elite player, etc.

The cushion that they had built up after that 8 games losing streak is now razor thin; beating the Oilers, Stars, Coyotes, Jets, Kings is essential, while at least one more win vs St. L, Min or NSH is likely also required to ensure playoffs.