This season could turn from a nightmare to a dream in a few weeks.
We were left dead in the water a few weeks ago, now we have a chance to make it, and if we do, I truly do think we can contend (not rose colored glasses).
Coilers cruising to a playoff berth, McDavid on a historical run with scoring, Oilers making moves to solidify "contender" status. Only to start slumping and miss the playoffs entirely?
Could be a dream, hope it's reality. Hockey gods? We'll hold your beers.
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I'd take that. If it came down to a single game against the team you are trying to catch in order to make playoffs I'm 100% in. If they lose no big deal, last week I was ready to burn my TV. Win and I feel pretty good about our chances in playoffs.
It would be pretty crazy if this team got in and went on the best run we have seen in 30 years. Most flames fans I talk to and reading this site this years version of the Flames is one of the least favorites if not the least favorite in the cap era. A bunch of brand new top players who are significantly worse than the 2 stars we lost last year. The team is older and our goalie completely lost his mojo in the playoffs last year and it carried over to this year.
So many flames fans have been indifferent to the team and if they went on a run it would be a huge turnaround in so many ways.
It would be pretty crazy if this team got in and went on the best run we have seen in 30 years. Most flames fans I talk to and reading this site this years version of the Flames is one of the least favorites if not the least favorite in the cap era. A bunch of brand new top players who are significantly worse than the 2 stars we lost last year. The team is older and our goalie completely lost his mojo in the playoffs last year and it carried over to this year.
So many flames fans have been indifferent to the team and if they went on a run it would be a huge turnaround in so many ways.
There are just no real standouts this year. Even in the dark years, the Flames had fan favorites. Pelletier seems most about to emerge as that guy, but he's at least a year from doing that.
But yes, let's see a hungry team go into the playoffs. Let's create the next set of Gelinas, Donovan, Ference, etc...
If they win tonight, the Flames would only be 11 points out of 1st in the conference. With all the points they just gave away this year, that's crazy.
The only team that is clearly a level above the Flames is Colorado. Everybody else in the west are pretty pedestrian, and the Flames, playing well with solid goaltending, are as good or better than all of them.
We just gotta put it together here and get in.
As for not being likeable - win a round, and they will be a whole lot more likeable.
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If they win tonight, the Flames would only be 11 points out of 1st in the conference. With all the points they just gave away this year, that's crazy.
The only team that is clearly a level above the Flames is Colorado. Everybody else in the west are pretty pedestrian, and the Flames, playing well with solid goaltending, are as good or better than all of them.
We just gotta put it together here and get in.
As for not being likeable - win a round, and they will be a whole lot more likeable.
The big problem all year is that the team hasn't been "bad" they just haven't been able to finish games and get points. A big part of that is just having the lowest PDO in the league (shooting + save). I can't recall a game all year where the Flames were played off the rink. Maybe that one game against the Avs that they lost 4-1. Against the top teams in the league they've played them tough all season: Boston, Vegas, Toronto, Carolina, Colorado, Tampa, Dallas have all been close games. And that's with Markstrom and Huberdeau not being close to their best all year.
Really you can pick out the games that have them out of a playoff spot quite easily, and it's not the games against the elite teams.
November 2nd vs the Kraken: 4-2 lead in the third, Kraken score 3 in 5 minutes to win 5-4. Vladar with an .808 save percentage.
November 7 vs the Islander: 3-1 lead going into the third, Islanders score twice in a minute in the third. Flames lose on PK in OT.
December 1 vs Montreal: Flames out shoot Montreal 46-19 but lose 2-1.
January 8th vs Chicago: Flames outshoot Chicago 47 - 25. Chicago wins in OT.
January 10 vs St.Louis: Flames leading 3-1 going into the third, Blues score twice in 28 seconds in the third. Flames lose 4-3 in OT.
Feb 6th vs the Rangers: Flames take a 4-3 lead in the third, blow it late, lose in OT.
Feb 13th vs Ottawa: Flames lead 3-1 with under three minutes left. Let in 2 goals in 50 seconds, lose 4-3 in OT.
Feb 20th vs Philly: Flames tied it up 3-3 in the third. Next shot goes in and Flyers go up 4-3. Flyers score 4 on 22 shots.
Feb 28th vs Boston: Flames dominate all game, and outshoot Boston 57-20. Boston ties it with 6 minutes left in the third. Bruins win in OT.
That is 9 points right there on games where Flames either should have easily won, had a lead late and blew it, or had multiple goal lead going into the third and blew it.
Doesn't even include some other losses where they just had poor goaltending and lost - these are just the games they either dominated and lost against bad teams, or blew a lead.
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lol this is the biggest 180 turn in CP history! haha. 2 games!
I don't think there'd be the same optimism around here if we won even though Markstrom played like garbage. With Markstrom turning it around, that's a huge difference maker.
The big problem all year is that the team hasn't been "bad" they just haven't been able to finish games and get points. A big part of that is just having the lowest PDO in the league (shooting + save). I can't recall a game all year where the Flames were played off the rink. Maybe that one game against the Avs that they lost 4-1. Against the top teams in the league they've played them tough all season: Boston, Vegas, Toronto, Carolina, Colorado, Tampa, Dallas have all been close games. And that's with Markstrom and Huberdeau not being close to their best all year.
Really you can pick out the games that have them out of a playoff spot quite easily, and it's not the games against the elite teams.
November 2nd vs the Kraken: 4-2 lead in the third, Kraken score 3 in 5 minutes to win 5-4. Vladar with an .808 save percentage.
November 7 vs the Islander: 3-1 lead going into the third, Islanders score twice in a minute in the third. Flames lose on PK in OT.
December 1 vs Montreal: Flames out shoot Montreal 46-19 but lose 2-1.
January 8th vs Chicago: Flames outshoot Chicago 47 - 25. Chicago wins in OT.
January 10 vs St.Louis: Flames leading 3-1 going into the third, Blues score twice in 28 seconds in the third. Flames lose 4-3 in OT.
Feb 6th vs the Rangers: Flames take a 4-3 lead in the third, blow it late, lose in OT.
Feb 13th vs Ottawa: Flames lead 3-1 with under three minutes left. Let in 2 goals in 50 seconds, lose 4-3 in OT.
Feb 20th vs Philly: Flames tied it up 3-3 in the third. Next shot goes in and Flyers go up 4-3. Flyers score 4 on 22 shots.
Feb 28th vs Boston: Flames dominate all game, and outshoot Boston 57-20. Boston ties it with 6 minutes left in the third. Bruins win in OT.
That is 9 points right there on games where Flames either should have easily won, had a lead late and blew it, or had multiple goal lead going into the third and blew it.
Doesn't even include some other losses where they just had poor goaltending and lost - these are just the games they either dominated and lost against bad teams, or blew a lead.
My favorite CP post of the season (not green text)
