Wild Card Race (Western Conference)

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by GGG

Calgary is in now if they win the games they should win which starts with the next 4 on this home stand.

A four game win streak without your best player is kind of asking a lot even if they are at home...

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

A four game win streak without your best player is kind of asking a lot even if they are at home...

Still plausible.

[Toonage]

They have won 4 in a row, three times this season. Its definitely doable. Without Gio? I still think its possible given the competition. More likely however are strings of 2-1.

W, W, L, W, W, L, W, L, W,W, L, W

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Sure, given the teams... it's an opportunity. It's just a lot to hope for, kind of setting yourself up for disappointment there. I'd suggest 3-1 would be a very good outcome. There are 12 games left, not four; the Flames need to win at least 7 of them to have a chance. If they go 3-1, then it's just a matter of staying above .500.

Big games coming up for each team in the race...

Vancouver: Saturday night vs. LA. If they win that, they're in great shape, as the games before and after are against CBJ and ARI. Of course, that assumes they can beat the low-hanging fruit teams which lately has not been a given. That Arizona game on the 2nd night of a back to back on the road after an emotional playoff race battle is a trap game and a schedule loss combined.

LA's big game is obviously also that Saturday night matchup, but worth noting that they do their New York road trip right afterwards right when NYR/NJD are playing quite well. The Isles have been sucking, but are still a strong team.

Calgary / Minnesota: Don't really have any major four point race impacting games until they play each other next Friday. By then, things may be decided. Though Minnie has three tough games in the interim (WSH, STL, NYI) and the Flames have relative softies.

Winnipeg plays the Canucks next Tuesday, and between then has STL, WSH and EDM. You have to assume the Oilers game is a gift, so if they can win one of the other two that should set them up pretty well.

[bomber317]

If the flames can get 3 of the next 4, I think we'll be in good shape.

PHI,CLB,COL,DAL

Kings have ANA, VAN, NJ, NYR for their next 4. I'm hoping they only get 1 win out of that (NJ).

Wild have WSH, STL, TO, NYI. They will probably win 3 or 4 of those games. WSH, NYI are struggling, TO doesn't care.

Canucks can do us the most favor. CLB, LA, ARI, WPG are their next games. Frankly as much as I hate the nucks, but they can help out a lot by beating LA and WPG.

Jets have STL, WSH, EDM, VAN for the next 4.

I'm sure after this 4 game set is complete, we will all be within a couple of points of each other (minus the Wild and god-mode dubnyk)

[Red Menace]

We do have 7 games remaining vs Non-Playoff teams.
(Phi, Clb, Col, Dalx2, Edm, Arz)
If we can run out those games we should be in....even if we don't we can hope to gain some pts vs the tougher teams:
(Min, Nas, Stl, LA, Wpg)
These next 4 games are indeed critical.....

[Jiggy_12]

It really boils down to just playing better than Winnipeg.

As we have a game remaining against them, that's all we really need to worry about. (Assuming San Jose stays down)

[The Fonz]

Not happy about the loss last night, but if it had to happen, I'm glad we get our asses kicked. It might just be the wakeup call we need to finish these last 12 games strong.

[ForeverFlameFan]

7-5 should get us in.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

A San Jose recovery at this point would essentially be a miracle. There are 5 teams fighting for four spots - and WPG and MIN don't have access to two of those spots.

[Red Menace]

Both WPG and MIN have very tough schedules, so I'm not too worried yet....

[FlamesAddiction]

That mid-season 8 game losing streak is really weighing heavily now.

I know we shouldn't have to rely on it, but the OOT scoreboard has been really screwing us lately. All 4 of the teams that we are up against have been doing well.

[IgniteTheFlame]

WPG & MIN seem to beat the odds every night, though. That's what worries me...

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Red Menace

We do have 7 games remaining vs Non-Playoff teams.
(Phi, Clb, Col, Dalx2, Edm, Arz)
If we can run out those games we should be in....even if we don't we can hope to gain some pts vs the tougher teams:
(Min, Nas, Stl, LA, Wpg)
These next 4 games are indeed critical.....

Imagine how many free points were taken away this time last year from teams fighting for a playoff spot saw lottery pick Calgary on the schedule...with Calgary playing ALL their prospects at the same time.

the 7 games Phi 3-3-4 , Columbus 4-6-0, Colorado 7-3-0, Dallas 5-4-1, Edm 2-6-2 and arz 1-8-1.

2 games that the Flames should pick up if Edmonton doesn't pull out all the stops and treat this as their playoff game.

The rest are 50/50 from the other teams perspective.

Flames had a home playoff game last night and despite their best effort they were blown out.

Yet another gut check time.... Flames have passed most tests but each one gets bigger and more important.

[Roof-Daddy]

I've been waiting for these supposed "tough schedules" to catch up to these other teams for a while now. I really don't think it matters that much as these top level teams seem to crap the bed more often than not when playing one of the teams we are battling for a playoff spot with.

They always seem to bring their A games against us though, with Anaheim being the only top team we've been able to beat in the last month or so IIRC.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

I've been waiting for these supposed "tough schedules" to catch up to these other teams for a while now. I really don't think it matters that much as these top level teams seem to crap the bed more often than not when playing one of the teams we are battling for a playoff spot with.

They always seem to bring their A games against us though, with Anaheim being the only top team we've been able to beat in the last month or so IIRC.

Detroit

okay guys doom and gloom today it seems

Last 10 Games

Calgary 6-3-1
VAN 6-3-1
LA 5-4-1
WIN 5-3-2
SJ 4-6

And the Flames had a 7 game road trip in there...perspective

[bomber317]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

I've been waiting for these supposed "tough schedules" to catch up to these other teams for a while now. I really don't think it matters that much as these top level teams seem to crap the bed more often than not when playing one of the teams we are battling for a playoff spot with.

They always seem to bring their A games against us though, with Anaheim being the only top team we've been able to beat in the last month or so IIRC.

Yeah, even last night, St. Louis was saying how they can't let their guard down with us and to play the full 60 minutes. Then a team like that goes into Vancouver and even Edmonton and ####s the bed.

Too much media spotlight on the Flames. Vancouver is quietly sneaking under the radar.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

I've been waiting for these supposed "tough schedules" to catch up to these other teams for a while now. I really don't think it matters that much as these top level teams seem to crap the bed more often than not when playing one of the teams we are battling for a playoff spot with.

They always seem to bring their A games against us though, with Anaheim being the only top team we've been able to beat in the last month or so IIRC.

I don't buy the "tough schedule" arguments at all. The season is too dynamic and there are too many intricacies to assume that results from a few months ago are applicable for making predictions at this point.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

That mid-season 8 game losing streak is really weighing heavily now.

Yes, but we can't play that game. The miracle comebacks (numerous) offset that. Don't get to realistically take those as given while bemoaning the long losing streak. Evens out in the end.

Regardless, a loss to Philly would be a big blow. A win, and all is still well

[Erick Estrada]

I hate that the Flames have to rely on help from the Canucks.