And now back to reality

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by JeanLucPicard

"We all understand that we're in a tough spot as far as making the playoffs," said forward Mike Cammalleri. "We're going to start Game 1 and hope to win 24 in a row."

I like that.

[Hugh Jahrmes]

I got home from work at 510am and was asleep by 530. Just woke up now - throw me in the "glad the Olympics are over" crowd.. I don't think that was healthy.

[getbak]

8-12-4 record over the final 24 games.

Barring an Oiler lottery win, the Flames will pick ahead of the Oilers, one way or another. The Oilers won't get Ekblad and will end up overpaying the Islanders for Griffin Reinhart.

Cammalleri, Stempniak, and Butler all get traded by the deadline. O'Brien might get traded for half price to a team looking to bolster their d-depth for a playoff run.

Before the season started, I predicted that none of the Western Canadian teams would make the playoffs, and I stand by that still. The Nucks really are looking like they're reliving the Flames from four years ago.

Gaudreau will win the Hobey Baker, Boston College will win the Frozen Four, and Gadreau and Arnold will both sign immediately following the final game and help lead the Heat to the Calder Cup. Gillies will decide to play one more year at Providence.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Goodlad

You guys are both going to be pretty disappointed with the return for Cammy.

Seems doubtful, not with the great Brian Burke as GM. He maximizes trade value, he said so himself.

[Tsawwassen]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

The Olympics are over, the gold medals stowed away in the overhead bins and luggage and its really time to get back to the Flames and the continuation of this rebuilding adventure.

So what I want to know. The Flames have 24 games left, what's their record over the 24 games? Where do we finish in the overall standings and in the West?

Who leaves the Flames by the deadline which I believe is next week?

do we get anything exciting coming back?

Oh and do we finish ahead of the Oilers?

And finally do the Canucks make a late seasons surge to get into the playoffs?

Yay for the all star tournament being over and done with. Having rival opponents playing on the same team and teammates going against each other for 2 weeks doesn't seem right. So 48 points are up for grabs, the Flames get 36 of them, a .750 run. I think some of the 3rd or 4th line will be traded with the same coming back, nothing newsworthy. Yes, the Flames will finish ahead of the stupid Oilers. The Canucks will be in the wild card derby right to game 82. It's too close to call if they make it or not to the playoffs. It should be great to see Gillis and Luongo, the two big losers of the team, get the most blame if they don't make it.