QOTD: Does the road trip make or break the team's playoff chances?

[Bingo]

Stops in Arizona, San Jose, LA and Anaheim ... all division games, three ahead of them in the standings, 2 teams they are trying to catch.

Do they get back into a playoff spot?
Fall further behind?
Stay the course?

[Poe969]

I think it does and I think it's at a perfect time too. These are the teams that the Flames will have to beat if they want to make the playoffs and succeed. I don't think it matters because I already think they've made HUGE strides from last year and this years expectations. It would be great to make the playoffs this year and I think this is a great test to see if they're ready. Having a losing record on this trip would really bring them down a few pegs and take the wind out of their sails. Winning could give them the confidence they need to really drive it home down the stretch.

[Toonage]

I see wins in Arizona & San Jose and we sneak 1 out of Anaheim. LA finally gets their revenge. Hopefully they stay in the mix as I think at the end of January / start of February they can make up some serious ground.

[kyuss275]

It could break them if they go 0-4. I don't think it makes them if they go 3-4. Lots of other hurdles/tests from now until end of year.

[Erick Estrada]

The Flames have won in LA, San Jose, Arizona over the years of missing the playoffs so I don't put a lot of stock in winning those games but if they win in Anaheim then maybe this team is different and playoffs are still a possibility.

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

The Flames have won in LA, San Jose, Arizona over the years of missing the playoffs so I don't put a lot of stock in winning those games but if they win in Anaheim then maybe this team is different and playoffs are still a possibility.

It's true. Typically what breaks the flames are losses to non playoff teams (Buffalo/Carolina and NYI in prior seasons) and the inability to get any points vs. Vancouver.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

The Flames have won in LA, San Jose, Arizona over the years of missing the playoffs so I don't put a lot of stock in winning those games but if they win in Anaheim then maybe this team is different and playoffs are still a possibility.

Win in Anaheim? What is this "win in Anaheim" concept you speak of?

[Cali Panthers Fan]

I'm saying 5 points. Wins against Arizona and L.A., overtime loss against San Jose, hard-fought but close loss to Anaheim. No shame if they get those sorts of results. It would technically end up a 3-1-1 road trip, and I can live with that.

As for the make or break part, it's sort of true and sort of not. There are still a lot of divisional games to be played. We play the Sharks 2 times in the first week of February, followed closely by games against L.A., Vancouver, and the Ducks again. The good news is that if they don't do as well as they want, they have another opportunity to gain position in a couple weeks, and that will lead up to the trade deadline shortly after. That will be crunch time IMO for this team and will likely dictate what moves (if any) are made.

Still lots of hockey to be played and with so many teams so close in the division, all it takes is for one to falter just a little. I'm not as concerned about the Avs, Stars, Wild, as they have much tougher divisional games than we do and are not likely to win them all.

[ForeverFlameFan]

2-2.

[Table 5]

Im of the mind that the playoffs are already out of reach. This team is just not consistent enough yet. Thats ok though, I never really cared if we made the playoffs this year anyway.

[mrkajz44]

I'm thinking two wins and two losses. I still think it's too early in the season to start talking about "make or break" road trips. Still a ton of hockey to be played, so while the next four games are important ("every game matters"), they are more or less of the same importance as the 37 that come afterwards.

[polak]

2 Points. A win tomorrow. We seem to be sputtering so I see 2 or 3 losses followed by a win or two for the rest of the season.

Prove me wrong please!!!

[Igster]

8 points! Shore scores 9 goals!

Then I woke up...

I say 5 points most likely. Let's hope.

[polak]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Im of the mind that the playoffs are already out of reach. This team is just not consistent enough yet. Thats ok though, I never really cared if we made the playoffs this year anyway.

I agree. However this team has shown us what they're capable of so next year, I'm expecting playoff hockey.

At least right now they are still close enough to keep the games interesting.

[Scoutski]

I think Arizona should be a win and then they manage to luck out against one of the California teams for another, realistically I have to expect they get blown out by the ducks (though I'd love to see us obliterate them and hear more comments from Boudreau about how it should never happen).

[DJones]

Seems like for 4 or 5 years we've played really well the last bit of the season to ruin our draft ranking. Hopefully that continues but it means playoffs.

I'd be happy with 5 points, beating Anaheim would be great.

[Gaskal]

5 points seems pretty realistic.

2 pts - W vs AZ
2 pts - W vs SJ/LA
1 pt - OT/SO L vs ANA

[dammage79]

Seems like a very winnable road trip. Only game I personally care about is a W in ANA though. Don't care if it means nothing in the grand scheme of things, I just want to see the look on Honda Center fans faces when the horn sounds and the home team didn't get an automatic 2 points.

[Enoch Root]

Yes, I think this trip is make or break.

Even though the Flames are still in it, the only reason is that the other teams have struggled as well. From 5th place Winnipeg to 12th place Colorado, the best record over the last 10 for the entire group is 5-3-2 for Dallas.

It is only a matter of time before a few of these teams get hot, so continuing to plod along with .500 type hockey is not going to cut it. If the Flames want to be legitimate playoff contenders, they have to put up a decent stretch of winning - and do it soon.

No time like now. Beat LA and SJ and they do themselves a huge favour.

However, if they struggle on this trip, I think they will find themselves in 10th or 11th by the all-star break and they simply don't have the guns to overpass (multiple) other teams down the stretch.

[Finger Cookin]

Nah, it's only 4 more games. With many more to play.

The home stands in February, with two road games in California in between, just might though.