Two teams, one playoff spot

[hummdeedoo]

Originally Posted by driveway

This thread is about 30 games too early. At this point in the seasons 2 points is 2 points and opponents are relatively meaningless.

Division opponents are, like, 2.25 points. Worth paying attention to, but not worth getting overly worked up about.

I disagree because of the strong correlation between being in a playoff position by the American thanksgiving date and actually finishing in a playoff spot by seasons end.

It seems clear even now that games against SJ/Minnesota and Winnipeg are potential big point swing games. Consistently beating those 3 from here on in should make us a playoff team..

[Fighting Banana Slug]

I agree that all games are important, and it feels like Hartley has the boys believing that, as they still haven't lost 2 in a row in regulation. However, I think driveway's point is that it is too early to state which specific teams we might be competing against for a spot. We are competing against all of them. The only way to make it is to keep winning. No moral victories, just keep winning if you want a playoff spot.

[ricardodw]

Throw out each team's 1st 10 games.... while they set their line-ups and work in the new players and the standings are:

CALGARY …. 12 - 4 - 1 - 25
VANCOUVER …. 11 - 4 - 1 - 23
NASHVILLE …. 11 - 4 - 0 - 22
ANAHEIM …. 8 - 4 - 5 - 21
ST. LOUIS …. 10 - 5 - 1 - 21
WINNIPEG …. 9 - 4 - 3 - 21
CHICAGO …. 10 - 5 - 0 - 20
LOS ANGELES …. 8 - 5 - 3 - 19

SAN JOSE …. 8 - 6 - 3 - 19
COLORADO …. 7 - 7 - 2 - 16
ARIZONA …. 7 - 8 - 2 - 16
MINNESOTA …. 7 - 6 - 1 - 15
DALLAS …. 5 - 10 - 1 - 11
EDMONTON …. 2 - 10 - 4 - 8

The Flames are running with the big dogs.

San Jose is playing almost good enough to be a playoff team ... and would be the team that if the Flames finish ahead of the Flames will make the playoffs

Right now it looks to be a battle between LA and SJ for #8

Voynov is their #3 defenseman (behind Doughty-Muzzin) same as Wideman is with the Flames.... the Flames season totally fell apart when Wideman got hurt last year and the Kings are not doing as well as they would without Voynov.

The other surprises after the grind started is that the Jets are keeping up and Dallas and Minnesota have fallen back after their good starts.

[djsFlames]

If we can build our above .500 gap to 12 games or so, I'll feel a lot of more comfortable, as some teams in April get in being 12 games above... which amounts to around 95 points.

But yeah, I'd say any conference opponent is important to beat right now. The longer you keep them losing, the less likely they are to go on a mad run and get themselves back in the picture, only to displace you in the final 2 weeks.. which has historically been known to happen.

[blankall]

All this talk about teams being locks for the playoffs is just wrong. Any of the teams in the west could hit a bad patch and be outside the playoffs. There are no true powerhouse teams this year. I see holes in every single one of them.

[dammage79]

I made a bold prediction last Saturday while talking to a fellow Flames fan, I don't think SJ makes the playoffs this year.

[Daradon]

LA will pick up one of the wild cards. That's their thing. Sneak in, then kick ass in the playoffs. So as much as I respect them, and as weird as it is to say it out loud, I'm not worried about having to edge them out for spot three in the Pacific.

That leave San Jose as you said, and I dunno, they just look too disorganized to me. The problems in their playoff games are finally manifesting themselves in the regular season. I think Flames edge them for spot number three. SJ competes for one of the wild cards, and just might not make it.

[Stay Golden]

The Flames will be right down to the wire with all the teams that are currently sitting 1st to 9th but i don't think the Jets will last in the race for long.
Hopefully 7th to 9th will start to drop back from the pack. That's what the Flames need more an 8-10 pt lead on that grouping.

[Enoch Root]

Agree that it's a huge game as the Sharks seem destined to be one of the several middling teams battling for the final playoff spots. Beating those teams keeps us up in the top 3 group.

Remember when the Flames would get off to bad starts and then we'd spend the rest of the year calculating the unrealistic pace they would have to play at to make it? Good times!

(by the way, the pace to get to 95 pts is .536)

[Brad Marsh]

I agree with the OP re the importance of tonight's game (in terms of most important game of the season so far) and the significant difference between an 8 point gap and a 4 point gap at this point in the season, and how such a gap would put the Flames in the drivers seat as far as finishing ahead of San Jose in the standings is concerned, but it's still way to early in the season to try and make an argument that it's coming down to these two teams battling for a single playoff spot. It could play out that way, but there are still several teams that are fighting for the last playoff spot.

For example, barring some amazing run from Colorado, Dallas, Arizona, and Edmonton, and such a run is certainly still possible for any of those teams save Edmonton, there are still 10 teams in the mix for 8 spots, and with only 10 points separating those 10 teams, and with only 7 points separating the bottom 8 of those teams (including Calgary and San Jose), both teams will still be in the mix for one of any number of playoff spots, along with several other teams, regardless of the outcome tonight. Tonight's game is not so critical. Win or lose, the Flames are still in great shape as far as the playoffs picture is concerned.

Oh, and there is exactly a one point difference (one OTL) over the last ten games between "the fading Jets" and "the surging wild".

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by Brad Marsh

Oh, and there is exactly a one point difference (one OTL) over the last ten games between "the fading Jets" and "the surging wild".

Yeah, I think both teams are in the mix. As always, depends greatly on goaltending, but I do think it is a mistake to write off any team at this stage (except the oilers, but not a real NHL team).

[#-3]

Originally Posted by Mattman

Calgary is giving Vancouver and Anaheim a run for their money here as they are only 1 point ahead of the Flames. If anything I think it will be LA and San Jose battling for a spot.

Its still early enough in the season all 5 teams are basically battling for 4 playoff spots.

I think its pretty safe to say Ari & Edm are done, but if any of the other 5 teams take 4 or 5 game stumble they could instantly be at the back of the pack.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Mattman

Calgary is giving Vancouver and Anaheim a run for their money here as they are only 1 point ahead of the Flames. If anything I think it will be LA and San Jose battling for a spot.

Maybe by the end of the year, but right now the Flames need to take care of business in the LA/SJ realm of the standings before setting their sights on the larger fish.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Maybe by the end of the year, but right now the Flames need to take care of business in the LA/SJ realm of the standings before setting their sights on the larger fish.

At the moment, the Flames are closer to Vancouver (1 point) than L.A. (3 points). They are closer to Anaheim (3) than San Jose (6).

Why is ‘the LA/SJ realm of the standings’ more relevant than the teams that are actually closer to them?

[Iggy Snipe]

I agree tonight is a big game. Calgary needs to make home a tough place for opponents to come in and play, which they have been of late, with some late game heroics. Sanjose always worries me. Hopefully we can do much of the same from that 2-0 win in Sanjose in November.

Calgary has been frustrating teams with their speed and transition game. When the coaches activate the defence man, teams are having a very tough time defending it.

If Calgary wins tonight, I will truly believe they can make the playoffs this season. That will be back to back wins over a Sanjose team who is supposed to be a given to make the playoffs.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

At the moment, the Flames are closer to Vancouver (1 point) than L.A. (3 points). They are closer to Anaheim (3) than San Jose (6).

Why is ‘the LA/SJ realm of the standings’ more relevant than the teams that are actually closer to them?

Speaking for myself, my focus in creating the thread was limited to what it takes to get in to the playoffs and I view San Jose as the target team to stay in front of for that.

The LAs, Anaheims and Vancouvers are the teams we would then be battling for positioning.

[Enoch Root]

Keep winning and let everybody else worry about us!

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Speaking for myself, my focus in creating the thread was limited to what it takes to get in to the playoffs and I view San Jose as the target team to stay in front of for that.

The LAs, Anaheims and Vancouvers are the teams we would then be battling for positioning.

Fair enough. Though as #-3 pointed out, if Anaheim or Vancouver should have a four-game losing streak, the whole picture would change. And that could happen quite easily.

[Resolute 14]

Oh, absolutely! But even in that case, if we stay ahead of the Sharks, we still make a far stronger case for making the playoffs.

Finally getting past the @$#ing Canucks and Ducks would be gravy.

[btimbit]

If the damn ducks or Canucks would just go on a two game losing skid I'd feel a lot better. But I agree tonight is a big one.

I'd say if we lose tonight then we have to beat Vancouver on the 20th. Especially if Vancouver wins tonight too.