[Game Takes] Flames 4 Sabres 1

[Bingo]

http://www.calgarypuck.com/2015/01/g...es-4-sabres-1/

[Mike F]

At press time the Canucks are down 3-0 to the Ducks, meaning the Flames move into a tie for the final Pacific playoff spot though the Canucks will hold two games in hand. With Bieksa’s injury the time is now for the Flames to reel them in

Canucks are a legitimate (and fun) target, but just north of them in the standings are the Sharks, with just one more point and no games in hand. The Sharks will host Anaheim and Chicago to open their post All-Star schedule, and will then play the Flames twice in their 5 subsequent games.

That's the team I'm targeting.

[Street Pharmacist]

They're all reasonable targets too which is great:


1) Sharks have a reasonably tough schedule coming up and we play them 3 more times so our destiny against them is in our hands. Eight of their next 11 are against playoff teams. Add in that the Sharks are a bit older these years and may not have the youthful exuberance to keep it going through these dog days. Their goal differential of - 1 suggests they're probably not as good as their record, though who knows.
2) Canucks will be without their heartbeat - Bieksa - for a while. Their record without him over three seasons is horrid. They've scored 12 goals in their last 7 games and just have no offense going. Outside of the Sedins, I'm not sure there's much there to change things. Mirror of last year???
3) Los Angeles has mostly away games left, and their road record is 15-6-6 at home with a lowly 5-9-6 on the road. They're going to be in real tough to make the dance with what they've shown so far and what they've got left in the tank after years of needing to win and deep playoff runs. They've played a lot of hockey. They need to knock things out of the park on the road against good teams to make the playoffs this year.

[crapshoot]

I agree with most of the points made in the game takes, but I'm not sure that Ramo is to be counted out just yet. He needs to step up and play great if he wants his NHL career to go on for much longer, and I hope he gets at least one more chance to show everyone what he's got while wearing a Flames jersey. He was pretty damn good last spring, so maybe he can get back to his winning ways.

[Savvy27]

Agree on Byron's game tonight, he played really well all over the ice. I thought it was one of Raymond's better games in a while too. He had a few giveaways but was generally controlling the puck well and using his speed.

Other than his goal, Chris Stewart was pretty quiet out there.

[GranteedEV]

My Three Stars

1) Jonas Hiller - when you only let in one goal, post a .944 and look great doing it, your team has to play pretty damn poorly to lose. Really a bounce-back game after the Florida debacle where he couldn't even get pulled.

2) Josh Jooris - I know Flames scored two more after that, but his goal just felt so clutch at a time where it felt like the team had tensed up. This man has ice-water in his veins. He's a solid center, but I also think he's a going to be a kickass right-winger beside our three main guys (Backlund / Bennett / Monahan). Definitely don't want to see him relegated to 4th line duties, his hands are too nice, his skating is great, and he's a guy you want out there for plenty of minutes. Dude's on pace for what, a 25 goal season when he's only on the team to be an energy/faceoff guy?

3) David Jones - Really gave the team a lift in terms of "all the little things" that they needed considering how flat they first came out. How good has he been since Hartley nearly scratched him VS Detroit?

Can't really go wrong with a bunch of guys, though. Gaudreau was a no-brainer as he's just looking to dominate, Brodie, Backlund, Gio were rock-solid as it gets.

I thought Colborne's penalties in the 1st were really frustrating, but he was great in the 3rd. He's best off the puck making quick decisions... when he's on the puck you see he's not really a playmaker... love him on the boards though. He's still developing, once he really learns his game, he's going to be a very useful guy to have. Between Him, Hudler, and Jooris, we've got a bunch of centreman who can play the right side very well. Toss in Jones, Byron and Poirier, and I'd say we're pretty damn deep at right wing too.

[Red Menace]

Do we really think 92 pts will be enough?
I'd assume at least 96.....

[PeteMoss]

Kings are currently on pace for 91, I'd assume that is where 92 comes from. San Jose is on pace for 96.

[Toonage]

Dallas was the last western team to qualify last year with 92 points. That's where the total comes from.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

They're all reasonable targets too which is great:


1) Sharks have a reasonably tough schedule coming up and we play them 3 more times so our destiny against them is in our hands. Eight of their next 11 are against playoff teams. Add in that the Sharks are a bit older these years and may not have the youthful exuberance to keep it going through these dog days. Their goal differential of - 1 suggests they're probably not as good as their record, though who knows.
2) Canucks will be without their heartbeat - Bieksa - for a while. Their record without him over three seasons is horrid. They've scored 12 goals in their last 7 games and just have no offense going. Outside of the Sedins, I'm not sure there's much there to change things. Mirror of last year???
3) Los Angeles has mostly away games left, and their road record is 15-6-6 at home with a lowly 5-9-6 on the road. They're going to be in real tough to make the dance with what they've shown so far and what they've got left in the tank after years of needing to win and deep playoff runs. They've played a lot of hockey. They need to knock things out of the park on the road against good teams to make the playoffs this year.

Crap now you're getting me excited

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Dallas was the last western team to qualify last year with 92 points. That's where the total comes from.

Club sports stats has the Flames over 50% at 92 points (67%), and essentially in with 93 points (79%)

That can change but they usually have a pretty good barometer by this point in the season.