Realistically, a team can only afford 30-32 regulation losses and make the playoffs.
We are 11 games in and we're already at 6. That means those will need to be made up. The Flames will have to win a larger portion of games to claw their way back into things.
The worrying thing is that the next games this month are
SJ - (T-9th)
LA - (T-23rd)
ANA - (T-16th)
DAL - (T-23rd)
NYR - (4th)
MIN - (T-5th)
ARI - (30th)
CHI - (T-5th)
DET - (T-5th)
BUF - (T-14th)
CBJ - (T-18th)
BOS - (T-14th)
PHI - (13th)
NYI - (T-23rd)
TOR - (T-18th)
8 Vs top 15 teams, 7 vs bottom teams with 4 of those being against teams that made the playoffs last year.
In other words, fun.
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The next three games might well tell the story. We play in the worst division in hockey, so winning intradivisional games will decide who gets in. Which is why throwing away three such match-ups so pitifully already really hurts.
I think the Flames will get better as the season chugs along. Should have taken care of business for the first three games though. It would have been a completely different narrative right now if they had. I say we make it.
as long as the pacific continues to be crap, flames have a chance if they can get on a run at some point.
Issue is, one would expect teams like the sharks, ducks to get their ish together and start to pull away. The oilers should fall back to earth, but i think that's still a competitive team that's going to be taking up a playofff spot when all is said and done.
Team sits in 12th in GF/G, which is good, considering the lack of perceived production from the top guys.... this one caught me a bit off guard, as my perception has been that the team is struggling to score.
Team sits 25th in the league in GA/G. This one is obvious. Out of the gate this team was giving up a touchdown in actual goals, if not just prime time scoring chances. That has improved quite dramatically in my opinion, but then they go out and give up 5 (albeit 1 was an EN) in Chicago after being tied 1-1 going into the 3rd.
Special teams is the killer for this team in my opinion. PP% sits at 28th in the league (9.8%), and PK also at 28th (72%). If this team cannot get to a point immediately where they are even, if not winning, the special teams battle each game, no chance this team is going to the playoffs.
I am not going to harp on the coaches for the shady goaltending and defensive brainfarts early in the season, the lines/pairings (they know more about this than a fan like me i would hope) , the crappy starts by our best players (#13, #23, #7, #5) , heck, i won't even harp on them for the weak PP, given that if those 4 players struggling make up a large part of the PP. However, the PK, when to pressure, how to pressure, body positioning, stick placement in lanes, etc, is ALL on coaching. There's nothing about high skill, or creativity required to be successful there.
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Realistically, a team can only afford 30-32 regulation losses and make the playoffs.
We are 11 games in and we're already at 6. That means those will need to be made up. The Flames will have to win a larger portion of games to claw their way back into things.
The worrying thing is that the next games this month are
SJ - (T-9th)
LA - (T-23rd)
ANA - (T-16th)
DAL - (T-23rd)
NYR - (4th)
MIN - (T-5th)
ARI - (30th)
CHI - (T-5th)
DET - (T-5th)
BUF - (T-14th)
CBJ - (T-18th)
BOS - (T-14th)
PHI - (13th)
NYI - (T-23rd)
TOR - (T-18th)
8 Vs top 15 teams, 7 vs bottom teams with 4 of those being against teams that made the playoffs last year.
In other words, fun.
This kind of tells the whole story, of the games mentioned, those are tough teams. Between now and Christmas, we play 28 games(the bulk of those games are against some tough opponents), if we go below the .500 mark, than I think we miss the playoffs.
Three measuring stick games coming up. No benefit to playing in a weak division if you can't beat any of them.
Right now I'd guess no playoffs but maybe that is a good thing because for the last 13 months my Flames predictions have been a nearly perfect negative barometer.
Expecting the playoffs this season would be simply setting yourself up for disappointment. Sure, it can happen but our team's window has not yet opened. I would start expecting the playoffs next season and beyond.
A successful year in my books would be the continued growth of the young players, combined with more consistent special teams on a game by game basis. This is something that will benefit the entire team moving into the next few crucial years.
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I hate to tell you this, but I’ve just launched an air biscuit
Expecting the playoffs this season would be simply setting yourself up for disappointment. Sure, it can happen but our team's window has not yet opened. I would start expecting the playoffs next season and beyond.
A successful year in my books would be the continued growth of the young players, combined with more consistent special teams on a game by game basis. This is something that will benefit the entire team moving into the next few crucial years.
This is loser talk. You have three highly paid defencemen, 2 highly paid forwards and a bonafide #1. With that kind of money already being paid to the core players, this should be a playoff team.
Anything else is an excuse and allows loser culture to take hold.
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I don't see why not. I think they will get better and as bad as the Flames start has been, they woke up in a WC spot today so it isn't like they are miles behind other teams. Its a marathon not a sprint.
Yes, if they get more consistent. We have seen what this team is so far which is good enough when they play right. I have to believe that both the PK and PP will be better and the consistency will improve as well. If that happens then yes they are in the playoffs, and rather easily.
I beleive the flames have a chance; however, the possibly exsists they may miss the playoffs as well
That's a good point. But let me take it a step further.
The Flames can make it if they earn one of the top 3 spots in the division, or one of 2 wild card spots. But if the Flames aren't in a position to be near the top of the division or in a wild card spot, they aren't going to get in.
A lot will depend on the other teams. If those teams have more points then the Flames, then Calgary won't make it. But if the Flames do have more points then those teams, the Flames are in.
At this point I would put their odds at 50/50. They either will make it in, or they won't. Those are the 2 options.
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Too soon to say but not looking good. Having said that if our top players round into form then we should make it. Goaltending is better, the bottom 6 is playing well. If the Monahan-Gaudreau line gets going and Gio-Brodie get paired together and find their form then I like our chances
Will we make the playoffs
