Quote:
Originally Posted by Jay Random
Five possibilities:
1. Markstrom plays better. With better goaltending, this is a playoff team.
2. Markstrom doesn't play better, but Vladar does and takes over the starter's job. With better goaltending, this is a playoff team.
3. Markstrom and Vladar both fail to play better, so they give the net to Wolf. With better goaltending, this is a playoff team.
4. None of the goalies particularly play better, but the team in front of them stops giving up so many ten-bell chances by pressing too hard in the offensive zone, trying for a high volume of low-quality shots. With better team defence in front of the same goaltending, this is a playoff team.
5. None of the above work out and the team is the same or worse.
Seems to me like a fair number of things have to go wrong before we get to #5.
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Okay, but to play devil's advocate
1. Vladar plays better, but doesn't get enough starts
2. Wolf is better, but doesn't get enough starts
3. The Flames aren't the healthiest team in the league this year (already seems to be the case)
4. The Flames have troubles scoring without last year's leading scorer
I guess my point is, the Flames don't always act rationally, objectively, or correctly.
I could also see the Kings and Kraken regressing a fair amount. There's a chance the Flames make the playoffs even if they perform the same as last year.