Wild Card Race (Western Conference)

[ben voyonsdonc]

What I love about the Flames run is that most of the teams that are chasing a spot gave up some serious assets to pick up players at the deadline...but we actually got a few assets instead.

We didn't empty the cupboard for a run...we restocked it a little bit. It will set us up very nicely for the future.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by ben voyonsdonc

What I love about the Flames run is that most of the teams that are chasing a spot gave up some serious assets to pick up players at the deadline...but we actually got a few assets instead.

We didn't empty the cupboard for a run...we restocked it a little bit. It will set us up very nicely for the future.

True. The Kings gave up their first.

But the Wild traded brilliantly down the stretch.
Dubnyk easily the best trade of the season.
And Stewart for the 2nd round pick in the 2017 draft was probably the best deadline day deal made.

[sureLoss]

Colorado Avalanche @Avalanche
Coach Roy said that Reto Berra will start in San Jose and Anaheim and Semyon Varlamov will start in L.A. on the coming road trip.

Colorado Avalanche @Avalanche
Roy also said that Erik Johnson hasn't yet been cleared to play and will not be on the trip. Neither will Danny Briere.

Well at least Varlamov will start against the Kings. Roy doing a solid for Hartley?

[Gaudfather]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Colorado Avalanche @Avalanche


Well at least Varlamov will start against the Kings. Roy doing a solid for Hartley?

We'll take every bit of help we can get on the OOT boards.

[ben voyonsdonc]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

True. The Kings gave up their first.

But the Wild traded brilliantly down the stretch.
Dubnyk easily the best trade of the season.
And Stewart for the 2nd round pick in the 2017 draft was probably the best deadline day deal made.

Not disagreeing with you at all. The trades that other teams made were generally very, very good. I'm just glad that we are in a great position to make the playoffs without having to give anything up and, in fact, we got 2 second rounders and a third rounder.

[albertGQ]

I know there was a condition on the Kings 2015 first rounder they traded. Is it if they miss the playoffs they have to give up the 2016 first rounder instead or is it if they miss the playoffs and end up winning the lottery?

[MissTeeks]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

I know there was a condition on the Kings 2015 first rounder they traded. Is it if they miss the playoffs they have to give up the 2016 first rounder instead or is it if they miss the playoffs and end up winning the lottery?

Wikipedia just said missing the playoffs makes it the 2016:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_NH...raft#Round_one

Carolina will receive a first-round pick in 2015 if Los Angeles qualifies for the 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs, if the Kings fail to make the 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs the pick will defer to 2016.[71]

[heep223]

According to sportsclubstats.com, out of all the possible scenarios of playoffs/missing playoffs/matchups, the most likely scenario is that the Flames face the Canucks in Round 1 (73.4%). I don't know what I would do. Drink a lot, scream a lot, and be really really happy I suppose

[sureLoss]

Randy Sportak @SUNRandySportak
“@jprutherford: Confirmation: Tarasenko is indeed out with a lower-body injury. #stlblues”

[jaikorven]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Randy Sportak @SUNRandySportak
“@jprutherford: Confirmation: Tarasenko is indeed out with a lower-body injury. #stlblues”

Not messing with us again are you sureloss?

[Gaudfather]

Another tidbit of good news for the Flames tilt against the Blues tomorrow.

Darren Haynes ‏@DarrenWHaynes 2m2 minutes ago
First, no Weber for Nashville game. Now, no Tarasenko for St. Louis game. Even the hockey gods have become #Flames fans. Easy to understand.

[sureLoss]

The Blues have also called up Ty Rattie

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by heep223

According to sportsclubstats.com, out of all the possible scenarios of playoffs/missing playoffs/matchups, the most likely scenario is that the Flames face the Canucks in Round 1 (73.4%). I don't know what I would do. Drink a lot, scream a lot, and be really really happy I suppose

I have a feeling not only will we face the Canucks, but at some point Baertschi will be in the lineup for them during the series...and probably score a key goal just to make sure that thread drags on even longer.

[sureLoss]

NHL Player Safety @NHLPlayerSafety
Winnipeg's Dustin Byfuglien will have a hearing tomorrow for cross-checking NY Rangers forward J.T. Miller.

Renaud Lavoie @renlavoietva
Phone hearing for #jets Dustin Byfuglien. #nhl #tvasports

means less than 5 games if anything

[troutman]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Randy Sportak @SUNRandySportak
“@jprutherford: Confirmation: Tarasenko is indeed out with a lower-body injury. #stlblues”

I think Steen is out too.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I have a feeling not only will we face the Canucks, but at some point Baertschi will be in the lineup for them during the series...and probably score a key goal just to make sure that thread drags on even longer.

If you're not a Flames fan, that would actually be a pretty amazing hockey story. If you ARE a Flames fan, though... oh boy.

Fortunately it's extremely unlikely; the Canucks have used up all their call ups I think so the only way anyone gets called up is on an emergency basis.

Anyway, a Canucks / Flames matchup is a no-lose situation. Even if the Flames lose, the season still exceeds expectations - any playoff action is an unqualified success. But if the Canucks lose to the Flames? Bedlam. More riots. Mass firings. Existential crises followed by team folding permanently. City possibly abandoned.

Not to mention whoever wins goes to the finals.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I have a feeling not only will we face the Canucks, but at some point Baertschi will be in the lineup for them during the series...and probably score a key goal just to make sure that thread drags on even longer.

Sven would be the last player I would worry about as his game right now is too small for playoff hockey. I would be more worried about the Flames penchant to make the Sedins and Burrows look like they are still in their prime. I don't think the Canucks are a great team but the Flames hard work and the Canucks penchant for diving and embellishing could make for a lot of Canucks powerplays which has always been their key to success.

[jaikorven]

How I would love to have us meet the Canucks in round 1. Totally agree that if we beat them out then VAN will be in serious turmoil.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

If you're looking for a player to worry about it should be Vrbata. Having watched some Canucks games lately, the Sedins look fairly impotent when not on the power play. Vrbata meanwhile has looked really good even when he isn't scoring, which he has been quite a bit.

[Hockey]

If things can lineup for the Canucks they could potentially have an easier path to the finals then most. Should beat Flames in 5, maybe 6. If Jets get in and upset Ducks, then Canucks win that thanks to Jets sub par goaltending and then we get the Blues who we have owned. Of course chances of Jets and Blues advancing aren't very good.