Battle of the bottom: Who has the hardest schedule down the stretch?

[BigRed]

All right, folks, it's down to the end. Not holding out hope that Buffalo or Edmonton will pass us, so it's a battle for draft spots 3-5 between us, NYI and Florida.

Anyone have a sense of who has the toughest schedule down the stretch? Flames have 8 of the last 15 on the road, with 8 against playoff teams (and Van and Phoenix on the bubble).

We also play the Panthers, which could be a big factor when it comes to the final standings.

Anyway, just wondering what people's thoughts are on this. Not wanting the Flames to tank, but I have a feeling we're going to come in 5th last again.

[jg13]

we came 6th last, last year

the way this team is playing it wouldn't surprise me if we passed Carolina or Nashville.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by jg13

we came 6th last, last year

the way this team is playing it wouldn't surprise me if we passed Carolina or Nashville.

I don't think that will happen but I think with the way we play we are probably the best of the lower group, maybe Florida finishes ahead if Lou gets hot but I doubt it. I think #5 is where we draft.

[foshizzle11]

I think we will finish 4-6. I don't think we will move from one of those positions. If we play .500 hockey, which I think we are capable of, then we will definitely be around the 5th/6th mark.

No tank job. I would love a shot at Ekblad but this year no way we tank. Would be amazing if we won the lottery. Maybe Burke makes a move with Buffalo or something if they are in the top 2 since they might have two top 5 picks.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by jg13

we came 6th last, last year

the way this team is playing it wouldn't surprise me if we passed Carolina or Nashville.

We would likely have to have 4 more wins than either of those teams over the last stretch to pass either one.

If they go 7-8, we'd have to go 11-4

There's no realistic way I can see us being that good, Carolina and Nashville would simply have to be a LOT worse than they have been all season.

[The Original FFIV]

NYI Sked

SAT MAR 15, 2014 SABRES ISLANDERS
TUE MAR 18, 2014 WILD ISLANDERS
SUN MAR 23, 2014 BLUE JACKETS ISLANDERS
TUE MAR 25, 2014 ISLANDERS HURRICANES
THU MAR 27, 2014 ISLANDERS LIGHTNING
SAT MAR 29, 2014 DEVILS ISLANDERS
TUE APR 1, 2014 PANTHERS ISLANDERS
WED APR 2, 2014 ISLANDERS SENATORS
SAT APR 5, 2014 CAPITALS ISLANDERS
SUN APR 6, 2014 ISLANDERS BLUE JACKETS
TUE APR 8, 2014 SENATORS ISLANDERS
THU APR 10, 2014 ISLANDERS CANADIENS
FRI APR 11, 2014 ISLANDERS DEVILS
SUN APR 13, 2014 ISLANDERS SABRES

FLA Schedule

SUN MAR 16, 2014 CANUCKS PANTHERS
TUE MAR 18, 2014 PANTHERS SHARKS
THU MAR 20, 2014 PANTHERS COYOTES
SAT MAR 22, 2014 PANTHERS KINGS
SUN MAR 23, 2014 PANTHERS DUCKS
TUE MAR 25, 2014 SENATORS PANTHERS
THU MAR 27, 2014 HURRICANES PANTHERS
SAT MAR 29, 2014 CANADIENS PANTHERS
MON MAR 31, 2014 PANTHERS DEVILS
TUE APR 1, 2014 PANTHERS ISLANDERS
FRI APR 4, 2014 FLAMES PANTHERS
SUN APR 6, 2014 STARS PANTHERS
TUE APR 8, 2014 FLYERS PANTHERS
THU APR 10, 2014 MAPLE LEAFS PANTHERS
SAT APR 12, 2014 BLUE JACKETS PANTHERS

CAR Schedule

SAT MAR 15, 2014 HURRICANES BRUINS
SUN MAR 16, 2014 OILERS HURRICANES
TUE MAR 18, 2014 HURRICANES BLUE JACKETS
FRI MAR 21, 2014 HURRICANES BLACKHAWKS
SAT MAR 22, 2014 HURRICANES JETS
TUE MAR 25, 2014 ISLANDERS HURRICANES
THU MAR 27, 2014 HURRICANES PANTHERS
SAT MAR 29, 2014 BLUE JACKETS HURRICANES
MON MAR 31, 2014 HURRICANES SENATORS
TUE APR 1, 2014 HURRICANES PENGUINS
THU APR 3, 2014 STARS HURRICANES
SAT APR 5, 2014 DEVILS HURRICANES
TUE APR 8, 2014 HURRICANES RANGERS
THU APR 10, 2014 CAPITALS HURRICANES
FRI APR 11, 2014 HURRICANES RED WINGS

NSH Schedule

SAT MAR 15, 2014 BLUES PREDATORS
TUE MAR 18, 2014 PREDATORS OILERS
WED MAR 19, 2014 PREDATORS CANUCKS
FRI MAR 21, 2014 PREDATORS FLAMES
SUN MAR 23, 2014 PREDATORS BLACKHAWKS
TUE MAR 25, 2014 AVALANCHE PREDATORS
THU MAR 27, 2014 SABRES PREDATORS
FRI MAR 28, 2014 PREDATORS STARS
SUN MAR 30, 2014 CAPITALS PREDATORS
FRI APR 4, 2014 PREDATORS DUCKS
SAT APR 5, 2014 PREDATORS SHARKS
TUE APR 8, 2014 PREDATORS STARS
THU APR 10, 2014 COYOTES PREDATORS
SAT APR 12, 2014 BLACKHAWKS PREDATORS
SUN APR 13, 2014 PREDATORS WILD

CGY Schedule

SAT, 15 MAR 2014 FLAMES COYOTES
TUE, 18 MAR 2014 SABRES FLAMES
FRI, 21 MAR 2014 PREDATORS FLAMES
SAT, 22 MAR 2014 FLAMES OILERS
MON, 24 MAR 2014 SHARKS FLAMES
WED, 26 MAR 2014 DUCKS FLAMES
FRI, 28 MAR 2014 RANGERS FLAMES
SUN, 30 MAR 2014 FLAMES SENATORS
TUE, 1 APR 2014 FLAMES MAPLE LEAFS
THU, 3 APR 2014 FLAMES LIGHTNING
FRI, 4 APR 2014 FLAMES PANTHERS
MON, 7 APR 2014 FLAMES DEVILS
WED, 9 APR 2014 KINGS FLAMES
FRI, 11 APR 2014 JETS FLAMES
SUN, 13 APR 2014 FLAMES CANUCKS

[the_only_turek_fan]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I don't think that will happen but I think with the way we play we are probably the best of the lower group, maybe Florida finishes ahead if Lou gets hot but I doubt it. I think #5 is where we draft.

I agree.

It appears that our pick will probably be Michael Dal Colle.

[jg13]

Originally Posted by strombad

We would likely have to have 4 more wins than either of those teams over the last stretch to pass either one.

If they go 7-8, we'd have to go 11-4

There's no realistic way I can see us being that good, Carolina and Nashville would simply have to be a LOT worse than they have been all season.

i expect carolina to be a lot worse down the stretch than they have been all season.

[Stanathan]

If I had it my way the Flames would play lights out the rest of the way and gain a ton of confidence and then they win the draft lottery. Realistically I would like to see them pick somewhere in the top 5 as I think there are organization changers up to that pick.

[Day Tripper]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

I agree.

It appears that our pick will probably be Michael Dal Colle.

Fine with me...I like Dal Colle. He's like Rick Nash.

There's a massive drop off after #5 though...Hopefully Carolina and Nashville can stay ahead of the Flames.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by jg13

i expect carolina to be a lot worse down the stretch than they have been all season.

They might be worse down the stretch, but I doubt they go 3-12. That's probably would it would take to pass them.

I think flames finish 5th with a better chance at 4th than 6th.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by jg13

i expect carolina to be a lot worse down the stretch than they have been all season.

Why is that? I don't see anything remarkably different about their game now than during the season.

They're riding a 2 game winning streak, Nashville is on a 3 game winning streak.

IMO the Flames would have to go 11-4 or Carolina/Nashville would have to go 3-12 (like kyuss said) to make either dropping below us realistic. I just don't see it.

[Bingo]

given the fact the top three spots are all but gone, I seriously hope one of those teams tank and the Flames drat 6th. Don't see the gap between those picks as being all that much, and I'd love to see that no top 5 picks in Calgary history continue another season.

[Ashasx]

My god do we have an easy schedule.

[Day Tripper]

Originally Posted by Bingo

given the fact the top three spots are all but gone, I seriously hope one of those teams tank and the Flames drat 6th. Don't see the gap between those picks as being all that much, and I'd love to see that no top 5 picks in Calgary history continue another season.

Really? I think the gap between #5 and #6 is huge, but the difference from #1 to #5 is flatter than usual and there's no clear #1 franchise player. This draft is similar to the 2011 draft in my mind.

[jg13]

Originally Posted by strombad

Why is that? I don't see anything remarkably different about their game now than during the season.

They're riding a 2 game winning streak, Nashville is on a 3 game winning streak.

IMO the Flames would have to go 11-4 or Carolina/Nashville would have to go 3-12 (like kyuss said) to make either dropping below us realistic. I just don't see it.

if the flames go 9-6 and carolina goes 6-10 we're tied.

could very well happen but yeah still a long shot..

[jesters91]

Originally Posted by jg13

if the flames go 9-6 and carolina goes 6-10 we're tied.

could very well happen but yeah still a long shot..

Tied in points (79) but Flames would have more W's (36 > 35) and get the tie-breaker.

edit: I didn't check out the regulation wins so perhaps not.

[OzSome]

I don't care where we end up at the end of the season, I am just happy the way this team is trying to win every game. I am just ticked off that the NHL will allow the Oilers to get the chance to win the first overall pick again. What is that...like 4 first pick overall in the last 4 - 6 seasons? I think once a team gets a back-to-back first pick overall, they wouldn't be allowed to get another one in the next 5 years not even when they come last in the standing the 3rd year. They should automatically pick last amongst the non-playoff team... otherwise we will see teams like the Oilers who doesn't give a hoot if they pick first overall every single season's draft. What a disgrace of a team!

[TKB]

The Oilers have tanking down to a science. All your first overalls belong to them!

[jg13]

Originally Posted by OzSome

I don't care where we end up at the end of the season, I am just happy the way this team is trying to win every game. I am just ticked off that the NHL will allow the Oilers to get the chance to win the first overall pick again. What is that...like 4 first pick overall in the last 4 - 6 seasons? I think once a team gets a back-to-back first pick overall, they wouldn't be allowed to get another one in the next 5 years not even when they come last in the standing the 3rd year. They should automatically pick last amongst the non-playoff team... otherwise we will see teams like the Oilers who doesn't give a hoot if they pick first overall every single season's draft. What a disgrace of a team!

If the NHL knew a team would be that bad a decade ago this rule would probably be in effect by now.