5 games of hell, followed by 22 against mostly weaker opponents

[Caged Great]

The schedule is a bit bizarre for the Flames coming up.

The next 5 games are

Rangers - 4th
Predators - 10th
Stars - 1st
Blues - 6th
Wings - 8th

All those games are going to be a real challenge. Success over that stretch would be a .500 record.

After that though, things get a lot easier for the Flames

Jets - 18th
Oilers - 23rd
Ducks - 24th
Kings - 4th
Avs - 27th
Lightning - 17th
Coyotes - 21st
Sharks - 21st
Panthers - 16th
Oilers - 23rd
Devils - 13th
Blue Jackets - 30th
Hurricanes - 25th
Stars - 1st
Predators - 10th
Hurricanes - 25th
Blue Jackets - 30th
Canucks - 20th
Maple Leafs - 27th
Sharks - 21st
Coyotes - 21st
Ducks - 24th

Of those 22 games, only 4 out of all of them are against teams on the top half of the standings.

It is odd that the Flames are coming up on a relative easy stretch after next week. If they can continue to be close to the others in the division at the end of the road trip, they could potentially push forward and take a playoff spot for good.

It would be good timing if the team puts everything together right when the quality of the opposition decreases.

[cofias]

We should beat the Rangers. They have had poor results lately and over the season as a whole they have underwhelming shot differential and corsi stats. Goaltending kept them in it earlier in the season but Lundqvist even got the hook against Edmonton yesterday.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Given the parity in this league, no game should ever be labelled as an "easy" one. Especially for a team who is in the bottom 5 of the league.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

10 of those 22 games come against our divisional opponents as well. Good way to move up in the standings.

Also...our division is pathetic.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

Given the parity in this league, no game should ever be labelled as an "easy" one. Especially for a team who is in the bottom 5 of the league.

All the teams are pretty good this year, no real deadbeats. Easy is a relative term of course.

Still, would rather face the bottom half of the league for 18/22 than the other way around.

[flylock shox]

The Flames will probably go 5-0 then 4-18.

[Geeoff]

Some of those teams that are at the lower end of the standings are a lot better than they appear. I wouldn't consider games against the Ducks, Sharks and Lightning as easy.

[Moneyhands23]

Wow we should really know where the teams at after those 27 games

[sureLoss]

Off topic, but division re-alignment still feels weird. Don't play the Wild until February. Feels like the Wild should have put Flames fans to sleep at least 3 times by now.

[GreenLantern2814]

We should really acquire a goalie to take advantage of the situation.

I've heard Frederick Andersen is available. We should get him.

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Off topic, but division re-alignment still feels weird. Don't play the Wild until February. Feels like the Wild should have put Flames fans to sleep at least 3 times by now.

Man those games against the Wild when Iggy et al were just phoning it in could be used in Gitmo interrogations.

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by Geeoff

Man those games against the Wild when Iggy et al were just phoning it in could be used in Gitmo interrogations.

Doesn't Iggy have the most points of any player vs. Minnesota?

[handgroen]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

Given the parity in this league, no game should ever be labelled as an "easy" one. Especially for a team who is in the bottom 5 of the league.

this is a good thread, while i agree with what you've said, it doesn't mean that this thread is meaningless.


the OP comes up with an original and informative contribution and you chime in with the always meaningless "one day at a time" or "that's why they play the games"

lazy, self-evident, throw-away post IMO

[Banner]

Originally Posted by handgroen

this is a good thread, while i agree with what you've said, it doesn't mean that this thread is meaningless.


the OP comes up with an original and informative contribution and you chime in with the always meaningless "one day at a time" or "that's why they play the games"

lazy, self-evident, throw-away post IMO

What? He never said the thread was meaningless, and didn't even say either quote you mentioned. Didn't come off as negative either, just said something that a lot of people here agree with, even you admittedly. A team who is 1 point ahead of last in the league has no right to call any game easy.

[handgroen]

Originally Posted by Banner

What? He never said the thread was meaningless, and didn't even say either quote you mentioned. Didn't come off as negative either, just said something that a lot of people here agree with, even you admittedly. A team who is 1 point ahead of last in the league has no right to call any game easy.

it was a dismissive post, i felt.
the OP brings up an interesting point and the second response is essentially 'yeah but the flames are bad, and there are no days off in the nhl'

no xxxx sherlock

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by handgroen

it was a dismissive post, i felt.
the OP brings up an interesting point and the second response is essentially 'yeah but the flames are bad, and there are no days off in the nhl'

no xxxx sherlock

Okay.




Now that's a dismissive post.

[GGG]

If we can go 3-2 through the tough stretch already 1-0 we would be 1 game under 500 and with another good win streak be back in playoff discussion.

If we go 0-4 it makes even good results over the following games almost meaningless because the whole would be too great.

So need to be .500 over the road trip.

[Enoch Root]

I agree with the OP that these 5 games are crucial. And my thoughts heading in were something along these lines:

0-2 pts... lottery team
3-4 pts... the mountain they have to climb remains steep
5-6 pts... totally back in the playoff picture
more than 6 pts... (I wish) look out LA!

Getting those first 2 pts was HUGE!

[DoubleK]

Is there a pole for how many points this road trip will bring?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

Is there a pole for how many points this road trip will bring?