Wild Card Race (Western Conference)

[Itse]

Btw, Antoine Roussel (DAL) has been suspended for two games. (Not a huge blow, but still a valuable player.)

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Not that far. But Saturday we could be on the outside looking in, no?

At this point I don't think any single game is a "must win". We have some safety net. Not much, but certainly worth one game.

If we lose this game and the next game against Vancouver, then you might start calling games "must wins".

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Itse

At this point I don't think any single game is a "must win". We have some safety net. Not much, but certainly worth one game.

If we lose this game and the next game against Vancouver, then you might start calling games "must wins".

I'm not saying it is "must win", there'll only ever be one. However, it isn't "far from" a must win. Pretty important

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Itse

Btw, Antoine Roussel (DAL) has been suspended for two games. (Not a huge blow, but still a valuable player.)

He got off easily. That was one of the more despicable plays in the NHL this season.

[Tsawwassen]

After Thursday's games:

1. Winnipeg (28-19-10) 24 ROW, 66 pts
San Jose (28-20-8) 26 ROW, 64 pts--second in Pacific Division
Vancouver (30-20-3) 28 ROW, 63 pts--third in Pacific Division
2. Calgary (30-22-3) 27 ROW, 63 pts--and fourth in the Pacific Division
3. Minnesota (27-20-7) 25 ROW, 61 pts
4. Los Angeles (24-18-12) 23 ROW, 60 pts--and fifth in the Pacific Division
5. Dallas (25-21-8) 23 ROW, 58 pts
6. Colorado (22-22-11) 15 ROW, 55 pts

Kings and Wild won in regulation
Flames, Jets, and Avalanche lost in regulation

[crapshoot]

Colorado basically got eliminated with the loss against the Rangers. 8 points out of it with no games in hand and four teams to overtake for the final wild card slot. They need to go 18-6-3 to reach 94 pts according to sportclubstats. I dare say impossible.

[FlameZilla]

The Wild are hot on our tails. They have a gimme game against the Canes next, then the Nucks and then us. Still have a game in hand.

Huge game on Wednesday, Wild @ Flames. We need to win and leave them aching with ice packs all over their bodies.

[badger89]

Based on momentum, it looks like Minnesota and LA are both likely to sneak in. SJ is likely to drop out. The question remains, will it be Calgary or Vancouver that gets in. Big game this weekend!

[Psytic]

Wouldnt it be a kick in the ass if we finished 9th. Id still be proud of the guys though. We have to keep it going.

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by badger89

Based on momentum, it looks like Minnesota and LA are both likely to sneak in. SJ is likely to drop out. The question remains, will it be Calgary or Vancouver that gets in. Big game this weekend!

Momentum isn't a constant though, there's still about a month and a half left to play. Injuries, cold streaks can hit any number of the teams between the Sharks, Flames, Wild, Canucks, and Kings.

[polak]

That loss hurt. We need a win against the Canucks. Can't afford to go on 1-3 streaks this time of the year.

[Bourque's Twin]

Schedule Update:
The Flames are competing with 7 teams for 4 playoff spots. I'm going to exclude Dallas right now.
Next 5 games:

Flames: VAN, BOS, MIN, ANA, @NYR -> Difficult schedule but 4/5 at home.

Canucks: BOS, @CGY, @NYR, @NJD, @NYI -> Boston matchup is always fierce, then BTB in Calgary prior to taking off on a massive road trip.

Sharks: @PHX, TB, @NSH, @DAL, LA -> After playing in PHX, they have 4 very tough games

Kings: WSH, TB, @COL, @SJ, DET -> Difficult schedule

Jets: @DET, EDM, @WSH, @TOR, DAL -> Mediocre schedule

Wild: CAR, @VAN, @CGY, @EDM, DAL -> Easiest schedule of the group.

[Street Pharmacist]

F'n Wild. If I remember correctly though, their schedule gets much harder soon

[polak]

If their goaltending comes back down to expected levels we'll be fine... Right?

[Tsawwassen]

After Friday's games:

San Jose (29-20-8) 27 ROW, 66 pts--second in Pacific Division
1. Winnipeg (28-19-10) 24 ROW, 66 pts
Vancouver (31-20-3) 29 ROW, 65 pts--third in Pacific Division
2. Calgary (30-22-3) 27 ROW, 63 pts--and fourth in the Pacific Division
3. Minnesota (27-20-7) 26 ROW, 61 pts
4. Los Angeles (24-18-12) 23 ROW, 60 pts--and fifth in the Pacific Division
5. Dallas (26-21-8) 24 ROW, 60 pts
6. Colorado (22-22-11) 15 ROW, 55 pts

Sharks, Canucks, and Stars won in regulation

[EldrickOnIce]

Flames a couple wins from 2nd in division and home ice in playoffs, a couple losses from 12th in conference.
Crazy stuff...

[Jets4Life]

Originally Posted by Tsawwassen

After Friday's games:

San Jose (29-20-8) 27 ROW, 66 pts--second in Pacific Division
1. Winnipeg (28-19-10) 24 ROW, 66 pts
Vancouver (31-20-3) 29 ROW, 65 pts--third in Pacific Division
2. Calgary (30-22-3) 27 ROW, 63 pts--and fourth in the Pacific Division
3. Minnesota (27-20-7) 26 ROW, 61 pts
4. Los Angeles (24-18-12) 23 ROW, 60 pts--and fifth in the Pacific Division
5. Dallas (26-21-8) 24 ROW, 60 pts
6. Colorado (22-22-11) 15 ROW, 55 pts

Sharks, Canucks, and Stars won in regulation

Important games:

Jets @ Red Wings
Hurricanes @ Wild
Stars @ Avalanche
Canucks @ Flames
Capitals @ Kings

Team with superior record in bold

[White Out 403]

Tampa Bay is 5-3-2 last ten. We need their help tonight in San Jose and tomorrow in LA. Huge help for both Flames and Jets if they can win.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

Tampa Bay is 5-3-2 last ten. We need their help tonight in San Jose and tomorrow in LA. Huge help for both Flames and Jets if they can win.

We are not on your side. Stop it.

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by troutman

We are not on your side. Stop it.

Like it or not friend Tampa Bay winning helps both Calgary and Winnipeg.

Also I'm not putting us on the same side. I'm a Jets fan posting on a Flames forum. Good news for me as a Jets fan and Calgary fans is by default a "we" scenario.