I wonder if the Wranglers are in Calgary? Maybe some trades get done before the game and they need a quick call-up!
Tough road for the Flames to make the playoffs. Nashville is roaring right now. Also, the Kings are doing well. Flames have won 5 in a row which is awesome, while LA is on a 1 game winning streak so far, but they are both 7-3-0 in their last 10. Tough to make up ground on either of those teams who sit 7 points ahead of the Flames.
Vegas is hiccuping right now at 3-6-1. That seems to be the only legitimate target for the Flames, but they do sit 8 points up. If it is going to happen, it will probably be them.
Edmonton is 11 points clear, and they are doing well right now. I can never discount Edmonton's propensity to suck, so who knows, but as it stands, it is unlikely. Vancouver is sputtering, but they are so far ahead it doesn't really matter.
Definitely some back-pressure by St. Louis, Minnesota and even tonight's Seattle, who have the same number of GP and sit just 2 points back.
To say this is a must win is not doing it justice. There is only one team in front of them - with a healthy lead - that they can catch. Hanifin will be traded as well at some point this week. They managed to squeak by the Penguins on Saturday (in a very heroic and entertaining fashion!), but that team is cooked themselves and are basically out of the playoffs and running on the fumes that Crosby releases out of his butt.
The best thing that Calgary needs to do is lose tonight. I can't really cheer for a loss, and wins always make me smile and I always cheer when they score.. but it sure feels like I will be relieved if they lose tonight in some way. This team needs to sell. It is possible - but incredibly unlikely - for them to make the playoffs this season.
After tonight, the Flames go on the road to play Tampa, Florida and Carolina. Then they are home against Colorado, and then Vegas (who will have bought somebody (or two) by then). That will certainly be the toughest part of their remaining schedule, however. There is a faint glimmer, but if they lose tonight, it just puts them way too far back at a time of year when there are so many 3 point games. Flames basically have to win each game until they are i a playoff spot.
Though they play a lot of easy games like the Sharks (2x), Blackhawks (1x), Ducks (2x), Coyotes (1x), I worry about them actually showing up for those games.
I am just hoping for an entertaining game. Win or lose, I will just enjoy the benefits of each outcome, I guess, rather than being upset with losing, or being upset with not getting a better pick and a more solid direction for the team (if what Friedman says is true). Just enjoy life.
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