Flames have 37 games remaining. Of those 9 are against divison opponents we're fighting for playoff spots with - or chasing for the division lead.
LAK - 2
VGK - 4
SJS - 2
ANA - 1
We also play 5 games against Central Division teams we might have to battle for wild card spots.
DAL - 1
COL - 2
CHI - 2
So that's 14 games agaisnt playoff or division competition, and 23 against the rest. We win those 23 agains the 'rest' and we finish with 100 points, which should be enough to get in.
Interestingly, we play very few games against our playoff competition in February. We have one divisional game the whole month (VGK) and then play all of our Central Division 'foes.' It's March, and in particular the second half of March where suddenly the Pacific Division rears its head. From March 13 to the end of the season we play 8 of 12 games against the Pacific, though two are against the Oil.
If we go streaking through February, those late March games may not end up mattering that much as we could well have salted away a playoff spot.
On the other hand, if we do hit a rough patch - and February is going to be tough, 12 of 15 games against teams currently in the playoffs and 2 games against Chicago - having that string of interdivisional games at the end of the year would be a last-ditch chance to make the dance.
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