[GDT] Flames vs Senators, 7:00 PM MT, Sportsnet Flames, Fan 960

[hwy19man]

Pregame links
https://scores.nbcsports.com/nhl/pre...&home=3&vis=14
http://sportsstats.cbc.ca/hockey/nhl...summary_6.html
http://sportsstats.cbc.ca/hockey/nhl...preview_6.html

[jlh2640]

Well I expect nothing, hoping to be pleasantly surprised again. I just don’t think it matters.

[TheIronMaiden]

Whether they make the playoffs or not, every game they win gives them more meaningful games to end the season, and that is a hell of a lot better for the young players on this team than a few spots in the draft.

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

If the right things happen tonight we're 4 points back and they have two games in hand.

In baseball terms, that is 3 games back with 11 to play. Extremely doable. Some examples:

In 2009 the Tigers had a 3 game lead with four to play. They finished tied and lost the one game playoff.
Who can forget the Jays in 1987. 3.5 game lead with 7 to play and finished 2 back.
The 1978 Red Sox, the 2007 Mets. Lots of examples.

What we need more than anything is a good old fashioned losing streak for the Canadiens. Just a monumental collapse that snowballs on them.

Limping into the playoffs on the coat tails of another teams collapse only to end up drafting 20-31 would be the typical flames move.

This team is not going anywhere, cut your loses and move on from this season. Bring up some kids and let them play, see what you’ve got for next year.

This team needs to re-tool/rebuild the core, let’s not hang on to the same hope we’ve held into for the last 15+ years. Let’s fix the issue.

[Backstop]

This Ottawa team is such an enigma. At this point it feels like the only team I am confident in to beat them is the Oilers yet Im no more confident in the Oilers beating anyone else any more than I am in anyone else beating Ottawa. Such odd times.

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

Whether they make the playoffs or not, every game they win gives them more meaningful games to end the season, and that is a hell of a lot better for the young players on this team than a few spots in the draft.

I couldn't disagree more.

In 2013 the Flames finished the year 5-5.
They picked 6th. If they had gone 3-7, they would have had the 2nd highest pick. So they would've been in the spot that won the lottery to pick MacKinnon, or they would have just picked 2nd and got Barkov.

The only players from the 2012-2013 team who are still with the organization are Backlund and Gio. I don't think those few "meaningful" games matter at all a decade later. But the draft spot sure would.

[looooob]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

I couldn't disagree more.

In 2013 the Flames finished the year 5-5.
They picked 6th. If they had gone 3-7, they would have had the 2nd highest pick. So they would've been in the spot that won the lottery to pick MacKinnon, or they would have just picked 2nd and got Barkov.

.

or they'd have taken Drouin

[GrrlGoalie33]

Shaw is showing this game is a blackout. Will this change?

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

I couldn't disagree more.

In 2013 the Flames finished the year 5-5.
They picked 6th. If they had gone 3-7, they would have had the 2nd highest pick. So they would've been in the spot that won the lottery to pick MacKinnon, or they would have just picked 2nd and got Barkov.

The only players from the 2012-2013 team who are still with the organization are Backlund and Gio. I don't think those few "meaningful" games matter at all a decade later. But the draft spot sure would.

Years and Years of tanking made little difference to Florida. Besides the Flames are not going to be competitive for another 2/3 years. These are the last meaningful endd of season games guys like Dube, Valimaki, Andersson and Mangiapane are going to play for a long time. Let them soak it up, let me soak it up. There will be lots of time to rationalize being a bottom feeder.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

I couldn't disagree more.

In 2013 the Flames finished the year 5-5.
They picked 6th. If they had gone 3-7, they would have had the 2nd highest pick. So they would've been in the spot that won the lottery to pick MacKinnon, or they would have just picked 2nd and got Barkov.

The only players from the 2012-2013 team who are still with the organization are Backlund and Gio. I don't think those few "meaningful" games matter at all a decade later. But the draft spot sure would.

This is not a Mackinnon/Barkov draft though. It’s not even an RNH/Landeskog draft as far as I can tell. It might just be a Yakupov/Murray/Galchenyuk draft.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

Years and Years of tanking made little difference to Florida. Besides the Flames are not going to be competitive for another 2/3 years. These are the last meaningful endd of season games guys like Dube, Valimaki, Andersson and Mangiapane are going to play for a long time. Let them soak it up, let me soak it up. There will be lots of time to rationalize being a bottom feeder.

Have a little faith in Brad to fix this. He has been learning for 7 years and is ready to execute now. There will be other meaningful games with a quarter of the season left in the future as well.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Frankster

Shaw is showing this game is a blackout. Will this change?

What do you mean? Every game is televised locally

[Backstop]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

Years and Years of tanking made little difference to Florida. Besides the Flames are not going to be competitive for another 2/3 years. These are the last meaningful endd of season games guys like Dube, Valimaki, Andersson and Mangiapane are going to play for a long time. Let them soak it up, let me soak it up. There will be lots of time to rationalize being a bottom feeder.

I dunno sir, the new coach was pretty definitive with both the timelines and the objective. 3 short years, and the beautiful Sir Frederick Arthur Stanley's Cup.

I'm a believer !

[monkeyman]

Originally Posted by stang

Win win for Oilers fans. I’m hoping for OT

I'm going to assume the prospect of playing the Flames in the playoffs scares you.
It should!

[WhiteTiger]

Go Flames go!

[Jig]

This is an ugly looking forward line up. Who is going to score. I am assuming Stone is a long term piece. So no we should not play OK or McKey and find out what we have with the Heat. Definitely big push for the playoffs looks like insanity on steroids.

I do not get the management team.

[GrrlGoalie33]

Originally Posted by heep223

What do you mean? Every game is televised locally

When we look at TSn5, it says local blackout.

[stang]

Originally Posted by monkeyman

I'm going to assume the prospect of playing the Flames in the playoffs scares you.
It should!

Not even a little. 5-3 so far

[blender]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

Whether they make the playoffs or not, every game they win gives them more meaningful games to end the season, and that is a hell of a lot better for the young players on this team than a few spots in the draft.

Also a hell of a lot better for fans than cheering for losses!

[Your Calgary Flames!]

Originally Posted by stang

Not even a little. 5-3 so far

Come on really? That is such an Edmonton fan thing to say. 5-3 still means it’s anyone’s series to win depending on what team gets hot. Now if it’s the Senators you guys were playing that makes sense...