The Eternal Playoff Optimism Thread

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

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.

Yup. Just giving points away. Then add on the goaltending problems, the frustrations with the offense, the frustrations with some of Sutter's decisions, and the fact that each time they solved one problem, a new one just popped out of nowhere, and it had been the most frustrating season ever.

And what really makes it painful is the fact that this is actually a really good team, but they just can't get out of their own way.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Goriders

It doesn’t matter. When they win tonight the downhill freight train is going to start picking up speed.

Next stop. Stanley Cup champion parade.

I’ll have what he’s having.

[HighLifeMan]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

Nashville is playing really well lately.

The Flames are at a point where even if they win a bunch they still need key teams to lose.

Nashville has had a tremendously easy schedule the past month - which get's far more difficult down the stretch run here. They should not be a threat for this team.

Look at their current roster...

Leonard - Glass - Duchene
Sherwood - Novak - Evangelista
Asplund - Sissons - Tomasino
Trenin - McCarron - Smith

Josi - Fabbro
McDonagh - Barrie
Lauzon - Foote

Saros

If Calgary can't outperform that roster down the stretch.... yikes.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Time for that ####ing SOS to finally payoff.

Spoiler!

[jaikorven]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Time for that ####ing SOS to finally payoff.

Spoiler!

Not sure if Calgary should be listed as an easy opponent, but likely due to in or out of a PO spot.

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[Macindoc]

Can't believe we still have 3 games left against the Ducks. Better take advantage of the games vs. the Ducks, Coyotes, Sharks, and Hawks, because winning both games vs. LA and both vs. Vegas will be a tall order.

[Johnny Makarov]

Effing losers. Stick a fork in them. 1 goal against the Ducks at home.

Go back to the ranch Sutter!

[Goriders]

I tried to be optimistic. I really did.

Last night popped my bubble.

I’m really optimistic that the flames will be booking tee times soon.

[Nelson]

Rough Saturday night for the Flames. Jets win, and they’re on pace for 95 points. Preds win, and they’re on pace for 92 points. To get in, Flames need 12-4 if they beat the Jets in their remaining head-to-head, or they need to do even better if they lose that game.

This is not impossible, but 12-4 would be unprecedented for the 22-23 Flames. This team has been maddeningly inconsistent. The 3-1 loss to the horrible Ducks during crunch time is the most recent example.

But they can do it! (Does this post count as optimistic?)

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by HighLifeMan

Nashville has had a tremendously easy schedule the past month - which get's far more difficult down the stretch run here. They should not be a threat for this team.

Look at their current roster...

Leonard - Glass - Duchene
Sherwood - Novak - Evangelista
Asplund - Sissons - Tomasino
Trenin - McCarron - Smith

Josi - Fabbro
McDonagh - Barrie
Lauzon - Foote

Saros

If Calgary can't outperform that roster down the stretch.... yikes.

They sold and still do better than the grinding hustling Flames

Treliving should feel embarrassed

[Nelson]

Even the points with the Preds but they have 3 games in hand. Jets up 6 points with even games played. REALLY needed that game against the Ducks.

[Sandman]

Flames play to their opponents. If we play the lowly Preds, we will play DOWN to the lowly Preds. Oh, and Saros will stone us.

[TheIronMaiden]

The Flames magic numbers for the final 15 games are 11-3-1, 10-2-3, 9-1-5 or 8-0-7

Can't lose more than three games. It's starting to look impossible.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Flames play to their opponents. If we play the lowly Preds, we will play DOWN to the lowly Preds. Oh, and Saros will stone us.

Lowly Preds? They have a better record than us.

[Patek23]

What is our magic number of wins for us and Jets losses?

[DSIM420]

Originally Posted by patek23

what is our magic number of wins for us and jets losses?

12

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

They sold and still do better than the grinding hustling Flames

Treliving should feel embarrassed

Why is it Tree that should be embarrassed?

[Manhattanboy]

Originally Posted by DSIM420

12

Does that mean the Jets magic number against us is 3?

edit: that can't be right?

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

Does that mean the Jets magic number against us is 3?

edit: that can't be right?

?? lol are you drunk? it's 12. you quoted the post.

[Manhattanboy]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

?? lol are you drunk? it's 12. you quoted the post.

I must be.