QOTD: Flames Current Streak For Real?

[Bingo]

This trip looked pretty tough to me .. with Mark Giordano. Without it looked pretty hopeless.

A win in Philly they didn't deserve, then gutsy wins in Boston and Detroit, followed by refusing to mail in the third period last night and they are home in a playoff spot.

Is this for real? Is this just adrenalin from the injury?

[burn_this_city]

The adrenaline rush would only last a game or two. This is the culture of the team. They will never give up.

[IgiTang]

I think as the regular season comes to an end, you're going to see some really gritty, play for the guy beside you, type efforts.

However, in the playoffs, assuming we make it, I don't know if the Flames have another gear.

Saying that, another gear could simply be 60 minute efforts and tightening up those first periods.

This team is so surprising that anything is possible.

They just need to get to the dance. If they lose out 4 straight after the regular season, I will still be really proud to be a Flames fan and proud of this team. Making it in is a noteworthy accomplishment for this team.

[Itse]

Giordano hasn't carried the team the same way he did to start the season in a good while. His game has come down to earth some, and the rest have picked it up.

That said, I feel going down 4-0 would never have happened with Giordano there. Without the injury I think we're 5-2 instead of 4-3 on this trip.

[Mike F]

It's mainly the culture: hard work, up tempo, sacrifice, and never quit, as exemplified by the penalty killing stats I put in the Game Takes thread. The players just won't let each other take shortcuts.

And at the risk of derailing the thread, it's also a testament to the depth put together mainly by Feaster. Different guys can step up because there are different guys capable of stepping up throughout the roster, with Feaster's hand picked coach coaxing the best out of them. Every time I see Feaster tweet out in excitement, it makes me think that Burke, if he has integrity, should publicly give him his due.

[Moneyhands23]

I just can't believe we are almost at the 10 games remaining point of the season. I'm hopeful that we can face the Canucks in the first round!!!! Would be so awesome to knock them out of the playoffs! So so so awesome!!!!

[Imported_Aussie]

Hard poll to answer, I am torn.
On one hand, this team has a competitive, never say die culture.
On the other hand, there is this nagging feeling that the bubble will burst at some point, especially playing Russell, Wideman and Brodie so heavily.

Right now this is a team with a clear top line that provides most of the scoring (Gaudreau, Monahan, Hudler) and lots of points from activating the defense. Secondary scoring is less reliable, but still players like Raymond, Backlund, Colborne will chip in here and there.

I am going to be optimistic and say it is the culture rather than adrenalin, and just enjoy the ride as long as I can

[CroFlames]

I don't think you necessarily win or lose on the back of Gio. Although he's our best player, again the cliche, it is a team sport.

I think if we had Gio in the lineup we don't go down 4-zip, and it is a much closer game. But it was an entire team effort to come back. And that will be the case for the remainder of the season. Having Gio would most certianly help our playoff chances, but we are not dead in the water without him.

Man I hope we make the dance. This team full of heart deserves a crack at the playoffs.

[Roof-Daddy]

I want to buy in to this team, but I won't because the superstitious side of me says that as soon as I do, they will crush me for it haha.

Now that the schedule is looking to be "Easy", I'm more nervous than ever.

Ah well, I will continue to watch religiously, hoping for the best but expecting the worst and enjoying the ride.

[Bingo]

I'm starting to wonder if this team would have slid if Treliving had added to the roster at the deadline.

Seems like they have a hell bent plan to prove to the world that they can win without Giordano, much like they had that attitude with him.

Bottom line, this year can't fail at this point. Too many games in it that you simply can't ignore the development that has happened within the organization from being a team in the hunt.

[Locke]

Its too much to be a coincidence so I voted culture.

[the_only_turek_fan]

If they were going to break it would have happened on this trip. I predicted they would and get 3/14 points and they came away with 9/14. This team is for real and will make the playoffs. I am a believer now.

[belsarius]

Originally Posted by Imported_Aussie

Hard poll to answer, I am torn.
On one hand, this team has a competitive, never say die culture.
On the other hand, there is this nagging feeling that the bubble will burst at some point, especially playing Russell, Wideman and Brodie so heavily.

I had that nagging feeling from the end of October until the end of January. The fact that they were able to basically erase an 8 game losing streak and remain in the mix at the all-star game just made that feeling go away.

There is a huge culture on the Flames now and even if they miss the playoffs I boblieve they are for real now and the nagging feeling has gone away. Gio might be out, but I think his heart is now fully ingrained in the room.

Last night I recorded the game, at 4-0 I fast forwarded it, I thought about turning it off and checking the score but figured lets just fast forward to the 3rd period comeback. That's how I feel about this team now.

[the_only_turek_fan]

77 points in 65 games.

If they go .500 (94 points) the rest of the way, they should get a ticket to the show.

[Thor]

I keep thinking 96 or 98 points, but I'm no stats guy.

[Gaudfather]

Culture of hard work is now firmly engrained in this team - never quit, never give up, ain't no mountain high enough etc. etc.

This belief means the end result will always be greater than the sum of the parts.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Gaudfather

Culture of hard work is now firmly engrained in this team - never quit, never give up, ain't no mountain high enough etc. etc.

This belief means the end result will always be greater than the sum of the parts.

And if you're one of the teams at the top of the Western Conference you are crossing your fingers that you dont draw the Flames.

My sig is a perfect example of why. The Flames may not win a round, but beating them will be an exhausting proposition.

[killer_carlson]

I think that the adrenalin will subside now that the team is home and able to get some R&R.

[Robbob]

I think it has to be the culture. I think last year a lot of people agreed that getting that culture sorted and established exponentially helped the development of the kids. A lot of right things are happening right now and a lot of that can be attributed to the culture.

[ForeverFlameFan]

If I could vote for both of the yes answers, I would. I think it's the combination of both.