[GDT] Flames v. Red Wings, 7:00 PM, Sportsnet West

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by polak

St Louis has a better point % than LA.

So what? They're not getting points lately, and the Shattenkirk trade pretty much signifies that they're throwing in the towel.

[polak]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

So what? They're not getting points lately, and the Shattenkirk trade pretty much signifies that they're throwing in the towel.

I hope you're right. I'm just saying point % is a better measure of the standings than pure points due to games played and LA is behind in that measure.

The good news is the Flames are ahead of both of them

[Neeper]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

Calgary Flames‏Verified account @NHLFlames 2m2 minutes ago
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"I want to make the playoffs more than anything." - Matthew Tkachuk

I can't even imagine what a playoff Tkachuk would do!

[Loudog]

Please score the first goal! I mean it's impressive what we have done after falling behind by a goal recently but I can't take the stress anymore.

[LanceUppercut]

Originally Posted by AC

Yes. I recall a western night hattrick vs Nashville.

I'm pretty sure that was Glencross. They gave out cowboy hats that night and they all ended up on the ice.

[DynamRyan]

Gonna be singing a gig in London, ON. tonight, the home of Matthew Tkachuk's minor league domination. I see it as an omen, so I predict a 4-1 win with a Tkachuk hatty.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

At this point, L.A. doesn't matter. The team in 9th place is St. Louis, which is five points back of us and on a four-game losing streak.

St. Louis has the easiest schedule of any playoff hopeful team remaining by far.

4xColorado (30th)
3xArizona (29th)
1xVancouver (28th)
1xCarolina (27th-T)
2xWinnipeg (24th with more games played)

Over half their games remaining are against the very bottom of the barrel teams.

Comparatively, the Flames play four games against Colorado, Detroit, Winnipeg and Dallas in terms of bottom feeders. While the Kings play Vancouver x2, Arizona x2 and Winnipeg.

[Toonage]

Blues also play the Wild, Ducks, Islanders, Kings and yep, the Flames.

Plenty of banana peels for them to slip on as well.

[jg13]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Blues also play the Wild, Ducks, Islanders, Kings and yep, the Flames.

Plenty of banana peels for them to slip on as well.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

St. Louis has the easiest schedule of any playoff hopeful team remaining by far.

4xColorado (30th)
3xArizona (29th)
1xVancouver (28th)
1xCarolina (27th-T)
2xWinnipeg (24th with more games played)

Over half their games remaining are against the very bottom of the barrel teams.

I expect they'll lose their share of those games. This is garbage time for those teams, when the pressure is off and the kids are fighting for next year's jobs. How many times have we seen a bad team go on a tear after their season was toast?

(It doesn't help, either, that the Blues will finish the season without their second leading scorer and only strong offensive defenceman.)

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Blues also play the Wild, Ducks, Islanders, Kings and yep, the Flames.

Plenty of banana peels for them to slip on as well.

Uh yeah? While the Kings play Nashville, Washington, St. Louis, 3xCalgary, 3xEdmonton, New York Rangers, Chicago and Anaheim while having a worse record than St. Louis in the last 10.

It's pretty obvious which team has the much harder schedule between the two. I'm just saying, there's no point in suggesting the Kings will for sure finish ahead of St. Louis.

Colorado has 37 points. St. Louis gets to play them 4 more times.

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by Benched

Take care of the wings. Don't take them lightly. Full 60, hard nosed game, all lines going and we should win this.

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Pucks to the net, play their game, bodies in front, etc

dump and chase, hit them hard, cycle down low and bury our chances.

[Textcritic]

The Flames are in the best position in the standings that they have seen following TD day since 2009. They are better positioned now than they were at this time in 2015. The Flames are playing in the playoffs this year.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

I expect they'll lose their share of those games. This is garbage time for those teams, when the pressure is off and the kids are fighting for next year's jobs. How many times have we seen a bad team go on a tear after their season was toast?

(It doesn't help, either, that the Blues will finish the season without their second leading scorer and only strong offensive defenceman.)

Pressure's been off in Colorado since October and December for Arizona. They've only gotten worse and the Blues play them 7 times.

The Blues have a better record in the last 10. They have the higher point percentage and the easier schedule compared to the Kings. I bet they finish ahead of at least one of the Flames and Kings.

[Jay Random]

And they'll be just as good without Shattenkirk as with him?

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

Pressure's been off in Colorado since October and December for Arizona. They've only gotten worse and the Blues play them 7 times.

The Blues have a better record in the last 10. They have the higher point percentage and the easier schedule compared to the Kings. I bet they finish ahead of at least one of the Flames and Kings.

Pressure always subsides for teams following the TD, which is why some of the most historically bad Oilers teams would go on little runs in March.

[bax]

Originally Posted by H2SO4(aq)

damn i love Tkachuk. Not 15 minutes after he was drafted he was rollin around shaking hands and heard Flames added Elliot and was something like "I like it, were goin all in"

Kid is a winner

Is there a video or a story on this? Would love to see it!

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

And they'll be just as good without Shattenkirk as with him?

You never know, see the Flames without Giordano two seasons ago, but really they don't need to be just as good. They are already ahead of the Kings in point-percentage. If they win today, they leap frog ahead of LA with still a game in hand. When LA is playing Edmonton and Calgary, the Blues are playing Phoenix and Colorado.

Worst case scenario for the Blues is 3x 3 point games between Calgary and LA, but both teams will be eating at each other's points regardless. If Calgary slaughters LA, the Blues will almost certainly be ahead of them. If LA slaughters Calgary, pretty much the same thing.

I think betting that St. Louis finishes ahead of at least one of those teams is a pretty easy bet to make.

[TheSutterDynasty]

You guys realize there are 18 games left. 4 points means absolutely nothing; that's gone in one night.

It's absurd how when we're losing everyone thinks the season is over and when we're winning we're a lock for the playoffs.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Proof positive that 4 Wongs make a Wright?