At times like these I hope the flames refer refer to Mr. Bill Pullman in Independence Day...
"Good evening. In less than a day... players from here will join others from Adirondack and Calgary... and you will be launching the greatest push for the playoffs in the history of the team. Team... that word should have new meaning for all of us today. We can't be consumed by our petty trade suggestions any more. We will be united in our common interest. Perhaps it's fate that today is the Trade Deadline Day, and the Flames will once again be preparing for the biggest game of the year. Not for McDavid, or Eichel... but for a playoff spot. We're fighting for our chance to play. To play in late April. And should we win the day, the Trade Deadline Day will no longer be known as a TSN panel day... but as the day when the flames declared in one voice, 'We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight! We're going to play on, we're going to survive.' Today we celebrate our Giordano Day!"
I want so badly now for the team to make the playoffs. Prior to the Gio injury it would have been one of the top stories of the year. Now it would be flat out guaranteed.
I am anticipating this to be one the best damn feel good stories of the decade. Cool Runnings like.
I don't agree with the Winnipeg comparison. Not for a second. Just listen to the Treliving interview on the radio. The Flames just lost its heart and sole, best player and Captain. Treliving said it was like they were gutted.
He won't win the Hart, but if you want the the very definition of "The Player Judged to be the most valuable to his team." Aside from Carey Price, I don't think there is anyone even close.
BUT
This story is not over yet. Not to belittle his on ice contributions, but I think his on-ice absence is manageable. Its the intangibles, the "best leader I have ever been around" stuff that worries me. Has this team truly been gutted? Or will they rally?
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We just need the same amount of points as the Kings and 1 less point than the sharks. Its doable.
12 wins out of 20 games gets us to 94 points. Our schedule has winnable games on it. All it takes is good goaltending like we had the first few games of the season and we are in.
Ironically the Gio injury now removes the pressure from the team to make the playoffs this year -as most observers are now writing their chances off.
This means this group of plucky underachievers can just go play hockey. They can play as a team and they won't be gripping their sticks too tight and whatever happens happens. And in the end some doubting Thomas's may be surprised.
And if they get in - can you imagine how much this city will behind them - even if its just for Round 1.
Leave it on the ice boys - you just never know.
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Ironically the Gio injury now removes the pressure from the team to make the playoffs this year -as most observers are now writing their chances off.
This means this group of plucky underachievers can just go play hockey. They can play as a team and they won't be gripping their sticks too tight and whatever happens happens. And in the end some doubting Thomas's may be surprised.
And if they get in - can you imagine how much this city will behind them - even if its just for Round 1.
Leave it on the ice boys - you just never know.
Good point. I don't doubt for a second that some of our early season success can be attributed to opponents taking us lightly. With our best player out of the lineup, I can easily see that happen again.
20 games left -- that means 20 opportunities for one guy to step up and be the difference in a hockey game. Good goaltending alone can get us 6 wins. The other 6 wins need to come from someone stepping up -- Backlund one night, Raymond another, Monahan another. It can happen.
12 wins out of 20 games gets us to 94 points. Our schedule has winnable games on it. All it takes is good goaltending like we had the first few games of the season and we are in.
One down, 11 more to go suckas! GFG!
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We need to forget about Minnesota and the Jets, the Central division in general. We just need to focus on getting the #3 seed in the Pacific.
I will say the Wild have a really tough schedule as they play mostly playoff bound teams down the stretch. They could either fall out of the picture or be the hottest team to make the playoffs.
How about Derek stepping up with the big minutes last night!!!! Love my team!
...and Monahan scoring in the first period. Looked scary in the third but they did it.
TBQH, this team has been pretty resilient all year. Yeah Gio has been the constant, but there have been different players that take the lead for short durations. Kind of like geese in the flying V where they take turns at the helm. Kind of a lame analogy, but that is what comes to mind for me.
Engelland Played a solid game.
Maybe he has more to give / prove?
Ramo with another solid performance. If we get Dubnyk-esque goaltending for the remainder of the year, we are going to the Playoffs.
I am hoping that Jooris finds another gear along with Colborne
12 wins out of 20 games gets us to 94 points. Our schedule has winnable games on it. All it takes is good goaltending like we had the first few games of the season and we are in.
Monohan, hudler, and Johnny all heating up offensively... Russell taking shot-blocking to a whole other level (which seemed impossible considering how amazing he has already been at that all season)... Ramo playing lights out especially when the team needs a big save... Brodie looking even more like a stud defenceman lately and Wideman handling huge minutes with gio gone...
This all adds up to the team rallying around the adversity they're facing. Still a long way to go and they will have to do it on their own cause all the other teams in this race are heating up too. But this team can do it. One game at a time.
Since this is the optimistic thread is it okay to ask which of the Flames will take the cup from Bettman? Will it be Russell, Wideman, or Hudler or will Gio strap on the skates and lift it one handed?
