Edmonton is No Good Episode 4: New Rink, Same Stink

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Agreed, nothing is a lock, just keep trucking. All that said, can you believe how much more stressful looking at that schedule would be without this winning streak. Great job by the Flames to put themselves in a fantastic position down the stretch just to have a great chance to make it, and even challenge for second.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by New Era

Have you looked at the schedules of all the teams in question? Calgary has the hardest schedule. Pretty much everyone else faces non-playoff teams in six or more games. Calgary gets two, and then faces the Pacific coast teams with way too much frequency for my liking. The nice thing is the Flames control their own destiny. I would much rather be in the Oilers predicament and be one point back of the Flames with multiple games against both Vancouver and Colorado than face the schedule the Flames have. Flames also have one more road trip to the eastern time zone, while everyone stays in the west. Flames are not a lock. Things could get very interesting in short order.

You could look at the glass half empty or half full. If these Flames beat tougher teams down the stretch it sets sets up a good mindset for the playoffs "we had to earn it". The other night the oilers gave it their all against the Pens and lost. That puts doubts in their minds about winning big games. We could have said the same thing 3-4 weeks ago them having a better predicament while the oilers were way ahead in the standings. All things considered, I like our chances and would rather put my bets on the Flames! They are learning how to win and what better way to do it by playing a team that has on more than one occasion been to the big dance.

[Jay Random]

If the Flames completely crap the bed for the rest of the season, they might be as bad as Colorado has been all year long. I think that pretty much sets the lower limit. In that case they will get about 9 points from the remaining 14 games, which still gives them about a 40% chance of making the playoffs. If they get 10 points, that improves to about 60% (according to Sports Club Stats).

At this point, I'm saying they're in unless (a) they suffer at least two long-term injuries to key skaters, or (b) Moose turns into a pumpkin.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by New Era

Simple question, what is the Flames record down the stretch?

CGY - PIT, BOS, DAL, LAK, @WAS, @NAS, @STL, COL, LAK, SJS, ANA, @ANA, @LAK, @SJS

I see two should wins, then a whole lot of maybes.

This season the Flames have already beaten every team listed except for Washington. Plenty of reason for optimism.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

You're needlessly being a wet blanket in this thread.

Perhaps you could contact Polak and make a "I have a bad feeling about this thread" and keep it in there?

I was reading the same thing and left wondering for a second if NewEra was really Flames fan. We are at an exciting time in the season when the Flames are beating teams 9 times in a row and he is only predicting 2 wins down the stretch?.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by New Era

Simple question, what is the Flames record down the stretch?

CGY - PIT, BOS, DAL, LAK, @WAS, @NAS, @STL, COL, LAK, SJS, ANA, @ANA, @LAK, @SJS

I see two should wins, then a whole lot of maybes.

Since you asked, I see at least seven wins and 16 points.

Here is how:

· With how the team is playing I see a minimum of two wins in their four game home stand.
· With their road record, I see them with at least 1-1-1. The Flames have done very well on the road all season.
· The team should beat Colorado, two of three of the California teams at home, and should win at least one one on their final three road trip.

Even if the Flames just barely manage a .500 record down the stretch, the Kings would require a 11-1-3 record to overtake them. Why is it so difficult for some posters to accept that this team is good, and they are extremely well positioned to make the playoffs?

Besides all of that, this is a thread for celebrating Oilers ineptitude, and for taking every opportunity to relish in the no-goodness of Edmonton. Leave the pessimism out of it.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by New Era

Simple question, what is the Flames record down the stretch?

CGY - PIT, BOS, DAL, LAK, @WAS, @NAS, @STL, COL, LAK, SJS, ANA, @ANA, @LAK, @SJS

I see two should wins, then a whole lot of maybes.

They should for sure beat Colorado and Dallas. They've also been merking teams with playoff aspirations for two plus weeks.

14 GR - 2 wins against non playoff teams means they only have to go 5-7 against the rest of the field to get 94 points.

It would be a collapse worthy of 2009 if they missed at this stage.

[djsFlames]

The difference is the Oilers talked about playoffs and matchups since December. Flames fans talking about it with 15 games left and a 9 point buffer with more ROWs than all the teams around them is pretty different. Their chances are 96% for good reason.

Also why does the schedule suddenly scare all the skeptics with the kind of hockey they have been playing for a month and a half now? They beat top teams in there. And if I'm not mistaken also swept their last east coast roadie. It won't be easy but I don't forsee them suddenly playing badly enough to put up the kind of record it would take to fall out of it.

As for catching Edmonton. Yes our position ahead of them is tenuous at best, they'll likely take it back another couple times before all is said and done and very possibly end up ahead. But the whole point is them and their media talked like the flames would never catch them. And here we are and they have. So this is about rightfully sticking it to their fan base and spector for talking smack mid season.

[direwolf]

Originally Posted by New Era

Simple question, what is the Flames record down the stretch?

CGY - PIT, BOS, DAL, LAK, @WAS, @NAS, @STL, COL, LAK, SJS, ANA, @ANA, @LAK, @SJS

I see two should wins, then a whole lot of maybes.

I don't think you're giving the Flames enough credit. Are they an elite team? Not yet. But they're clearly a very good hockey club right now. They've made life miserable for every team they've faced over the last few weeks, and they're playing with a confidence and swagger that they didn't have earlier in the season. This is a playoff team now, and I really don't see them falling out.

[Party Elephant]

Guys, there are plenty of other threads to discuss the flames schedule and strength of opponents. This thread is for discussing Edmonton and their no goodness.

[Street Pharmacist]

One thing worth talking about though is near the end of the season playing teams the night after they play Edmonton. LA, SJ and Ana play in Edmonton then us for three games in a row.

However, then they end the season on home/away back to back against Vancouver who at that point will be playing all their rookies.

[direwolf]

Originally Posted by Party Elephant

Guys, there are plenty of other threads to discuss the flames schedule and strength of opponents. This thread is for discussing Edmonton and their no goodness.

You're right. Let's get things back on track here.

E = no good.

[CaptainCrunch]

I think we'll be surprised at how the Flames finish up the season.

They've got the wind now, they're playing with complete momentum.

All I care about is we beat LA with all 3 point games, I can even live with 2 wins and a loss all three point games.

But I expect the equivalent of 10 wins in the last 14 games.

As for Edmonton, they have an easier schedule, but its not super easy.

MTL -L
Dallas-W
Bos-L
Van-W
LAK-L
ANA-L
Col-W
Col-W
LA-L
SJ-L
ANA-L
LAK-L
SJ-L
VAN-W
Van-L


5W-10L

They're Edmonton, they're no good, and we're going to see a debacle of immense proportions.

[djsFlames]

Yeah, Flames get three tired teams in there as well. So they'll get a to experience a bit of the Oilers Advantage™ to help ease their tough schedule.

[stang]

Your guys current streak is very impressive. Got to give props for sure.

However still not worried about a BOA first round. Would be great. The hate would be so worth it.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by stang

Your guys current streak is very impressive. Got to give props for sure.

However still not worried about a BOA first round. Would be great. The hate would be so worth it.

You're an Oilers fan. Of course you are not worried. After having missed the playoffs for a decade (a frikking DECADE!) I expect all Oilers fans to simply be ecstatic about playing hockey in April.

Flames fans are not worried about a BOA first round for other reasons. I think any team the Oilers play in the playoffs are a good bet to win fairly handily.

[Enoch Root]

Neither fan base should be worried about a BOA - the teams are pretty even overall (in the grand scheme of things)

However, neither fanbase should be arrogant about it either - and there's your difference.

[stang]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Neither fan base should be worried about a BOA - the teams are pretty even overall (in the grand scheme of things)

However, neither fanbase should be arrogant about it either - and there's your difference.

I think both fanbases have been arrogant. Don't see the difference

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by stang

I think both fanbases have been arrogant. Don't see the difference

One of the fan bases team hasn't missed the playoffs for 10 straight years?

[Beninho]

I think both fan bases should be worried about finishing the season on a strong note and making the playoffs. It took the Flames around a month to catch the Oilers and there is about a month left. Nothing is given in this league. Speaking of a potential BOA is fine but let's not pretend there isn't a bunch of hockey still left to be played.