I'm calling it now, The Flames will be dancing this spring - Page 5 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

blankall · 12-07-2015, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polak

We're last.

Also only 5 points out of a playoffs spot with a game in hand.

Poe969 · 12-07-2015, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blankall

Also only 5 points out of a playoffs spot with a game in hand.

I fail to see what this has to do with anything. Sure, they could go on a winning streak and make up those 5 points but they could go on a losing streak and those other teams could go on a winning streak and make it 10 points. The team just hasn't played well and something has to happen to get them to start playing well. Saying "everyone else is doing bad too" doesn't really help the team, those teams are playing bad but are still better than the Flames.

The Yen Man · 12-07-2015, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polak

We're last.

Some people like to be eternally optimistic, some eternally pessimistic, and the rest fall somewhere in between. I would say I lean more towards the optimistic side. I recognize they're last right now, but I do see them with still a realistic chance of getting in based on the weak division they play in. So because of that, I'll choose to stay optimistic and say they'll find a way to get in.

heep223 · 12-07-2015, 12:33 PM

Polak is an eternal optimist

blankall · 12-07-2015, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poe969

I fail to see what this has to do with anything. Sure, they could go on a winning streak and make up those 5 points but they could go on a losing streak and those other teams could go on a winning streak and make it 10 points. The team just hasn't played well and something has to happen to get them to start playing well. Saying "everyone else is doing bad too" doesn't really help the team, those teams are playing bad but are still better than the Flames.

How far we are out of a playoff spot is the only relevant issue to whether we will make the playoffs or not. So although we've lost ground in the league as a whole over the last couple of weeks, we are actually closer to qualifying for a playoff spot.

Yes, we could lose a bunch of games and fall out of contention. However, as it stands now, we're slowly creeping up in our division.

Poe969 · 12-07-2015, 12:41 PM

That's true, it's just mind bottling though. I don't know how to say this because I always want the Flames to win, make the playoffs and win the cup but I think the only reason they've been "creeping up the standings" is because other teams are playing bad too. Banking on other teams to play bad isn't a positive thing to do IMO. I think you need to focus on the Flames, their play and where they are in the standings and not look at other teams at all. To me, the Flames have been playing some of the worst hockey I've seen them play (last game was good though) and they're in last place.

blankall · 12-07-2015, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poe969

That's true, it's just mind bottling though. I don't know how to say this because I always want the Flames to win, make the playoffs and win the cup but I think the only reason they've been "creeping up the standings" is because other teams are playing bad too. Banking on other teams to play bad isn't a positive thing to do IMO. I think you need to focus on the Flames, their play and where they are in the standings and not look at other teams at all. To me, the Flames have been playing some of the worst hockey I've seen them play (last game was good though) and they're in last place.

I don't disagree. We just happen to be in a downright awful division. LA is clearly pulling away from the pack. However, just when I though Anaheim was going to pick up their game and ensure we couldn't make the playoffs Arizona and SJ started sucking.

Having 2 really good teams in the division beating up on the teams beneath them could actually provide the opportunity we need to grab that third spot. I wonder when the last time a team below .500 made the playoffs was. There's a real chance of that happening in our division this year.

Flames Draft Watcher · 12-07-2015, 12:56 PM

Flames won't be making the playoffs unless a few of these happen:

-We need a goalie who is capable of stealing the occasional game
-Giordano starts like playing the Gio of the last couple years
-Monahan and Hudler start playing like they did last year
-Special teams improve significantly
-We cut down on bad penalties (weren't we one of the least penalized teams last year? I think the impact of that is underestimated)

We're just worse than last years team in several ways.

tvp2003 · 12-07-2015, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blankall

Having 2 really good teams in the division beating up on the teams beneath them could actually provide the opportunity we need to grab that third spot. I wonder when the last time a team below .500 made the playoffs was. There's a real chance of that happening in our division this year.

I agree, but then what? That team gets absolutely smashed to pieces in the first round? Even if miraculously that team is the Flames, would we even want to be that team?

Poe969 · 12-07-2015, 01:03 PM

And having 2 good teams beat up on every other team doesn't really help the Flames at all since they're going to be getting beat up by those 2 teams and the other teams too. They just haven't played well enough this year. If they do sneak into the playoffs, would the series somehow end in 3 games out of mercy? I think making the playoffs would also give the team false hope. The entire team needs to improve, being rewarded for being terrible isn't a good thing.

heep223 · 12-07-2015, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Flames won't be making the playoffs unless a few of these happen:

-We need a goalie who is capable of stealing the occasional game
-Giordano starts like playing the Gio of the last couple years
-Monahan and Hudler start playing like they did last year
-Special teams improve significantly
-We cut down on bad penalties (weren't we one of the least penalized teams last year? I think the impact of that is underestimated)

We're just worse than last years team in several ways.

Agree with everything except Monahan. He's been playing fantastic over the last while.

Benched · 12-07-2015, 01:17 PM

their play the last couple games gives me hope for the first time this year.

far too early to get excited about making the playoffs, but I'm at least hopefully that I'm going to watch a good game when I tune in.

polak · 12-07-2015, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blankall

Also only 5 points out of a playoffs spot with a game in hand.

Great and 4 teams to leapfrog, only one of which we pass if we win the games at hand.

Vinny01 · 12-07-2015, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polak

Great and 4 teams to leapfrog, only one of which we pass if we win the games at hand.

2 actually the Oilers and Canucks

polak · 12-07-2015, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vinny01

2 actually the Oilers and Canucks

EDIT: NVM misunderstood your post. Yes we would pass the Canucks on a count of wins but still technically tied.

Displaced Flames fan · 12-07-2015, 01:53 PM

I would sooner bet that they will make it than bet against them, but I agree with EE...the goaltending has to go on a huge Dubnykesque run. Right now, I really feel we go into each game down 1-0.

stemit14 · 12-07-2015, 02:57 PM

I too believe this team will make the playoffs. I thinks it's just been a rough start to the season... That this team has it in them to be much, much better and they already have been. Looking at it positively... They're only 5 points out of a playoff spot after having essentially the worst goaltending, the worst powerplay, and the worst penalty kill in the league. There's lots of room for improvement and this team has the talent and never-say-die attitude to do it. Again, only 5 points out. Can't take any game lightly of course for the rest of the season but there is more than enough games left to make a run into the playoffs.

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ScorchyScorch · 12-07-2015, 03:07 PM

We needed 45 wins last season to make it. I'll say it takes 43 wins (or low 90s) this year due to divisional suckage. We have 10.

That means 33 wins in the remaining 56 games.

That's something like 33-18-5 (for 93 points). That's how good they're going to have to be.

blankall · 12-07-2015, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvp2003

I agree, but then what? That team gets absolutely smashed to pieces in the first round? Even if miraculously that team is the Flames, would we even want to be that team?

I think in order to make the playoffs, we'll still have to be a good team. The difference is that we won't be necessarily punished for our bad play of late. If we were in a more competitive division, you could probably totally write us off.

Bingo · 12-07-2015, 03:42 PM

I think the Flames are better than their record shows. I don't think they've been cheated or have bad luck, but parts of their game broke down this season and with that they've likely cooked their goose.

Not as good as their record last season, better than their record this season ... on their way in my mind.

Two wins in come from behind fashion are fun, but that doesn't mean a whole lot to me. They need to go 4-1 on this homestand, and then .500 on that tough 4 game road trip to get my attention and without that I'm just expecting them to lay an egg on the road like they did in their last two trips.

Fun to watch though!