Quote:
Originally Posted by Leeman4Gilmour
I'm going to predict all the posters continuing on about tanking this year are going to end up disappointed. I'm certainly not predicting a run to a playoff spot, but the Flames underlying numbers have been pretty good all season;
#4 right now based on xgoals for %
They've been top 10 for most of the year and have been steadily creeping up.
PDO has been below 100 for most of the season and still is. But, Wolf is playing better, Cooley solid as well, and defensively they've found a rhythym (Andersson/Bahl are killing it, Kuznetsov a steadying presence for Weegar). I mean they are scoring more as well, but I have more faith in the goaltending and defensive improvements being more sustainable.
I don't think they end up crawling out of the hole they've dug, but do expect them to be closer to that mushy middle many talk about. I'm not suggesting this is a good thing, but it's what I'm personally observing.
Go Flames Go! |
Agreed ... playing a very repeatedly good defensive system. Have to give a nod to Huska clearly.
But the hole is pretty deep.
The Flames need to play at a 100 point pace the rest of the way to not pick in the top ten (which I don't consider the mushy middle).
The fact that they can't score and the likelihood of an Andersson trade should be enough to force them into a decent lottery position ... if I was to predict I'd say 7th best odds.