[News] Eric Francis piece: "The Case for why the Flames will make the playoffs"

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by BACKCHECK!!!

Flames are 29th in the NHL by points %.

The two teams behind the Flames in the west each have FOUR games in hand. They can both post losing records and be sub-.500 by points, and they will still pass the Flames, leaving us last in the conference.

Realistically, by the time the games in hand play out, we should be 29th in the league.

We may make progress, but right now we are actually nowhere near the playoffs.

Francis is a tool.

agreed.

I suppose if we are trying to be glass half full here, the key is that there aren't many teams pulling away in the western conference. Hopeful thinking, but if we see a lot of parity where the teams above and the teams below the flames aren't winning all the points from games in hand, it means they are being distributed somewhat evenly (likely at a higher rate to the teams above). Then the flames really need to start stringing together some long point streaks to get anywhere close to the playoff picture.

The one saving grace for the flames sucking over the first 25 games, is that there are few teams in the western conference that are really pulling away.

[djsFlames]

GP means a lot when we're talking 3-4 games that competing teams have on us. Whenver the Flames end up sitting for a bit to let these teams catch up, chance are a few will pass us, and the gap between us and playoff will increased by a few points.

I think we're 2 points out, but realistically it's about 5 right now.

[djsFlames]

I also look at games above/below .500

Flames will need to be comparable to others in that regard to have a chance as well. If the pacific playoff teams are 2-3 above right now then we're essentially 5-6 wins behind them.

[N-E-B]

I look at it as the team's behind us are also bad. They'll likely go .500 at best with their games at hand. That would put us just two points back of them. Of course I could be wrong and they could both go 4-0 but I highly doubt that will be the case.

[Hot_Flatus]

This reeks of nothing more than going against the grain on Francis' part.

Sure, the Flames are only a few points out of the wild card spot, but they've also played 3-4 more games than the teams they are chasing. The two teams keeping them out of the bowels of the standings also have 3-4 games in hand and are only a few points behind.

Games played is the only reason the current situation doesn't seem as bad as it is. The worst part is that the team is actually getting great goaltending now and is still going to be hard pressed to make up games unless the offensive side of things turns around in a hurry

[ricardodw]

If the Flames are going to make the playoffs w/o Gaudreau then why did they spend so much money on him?

Are they a playoff team without him?

When Wideman came back from his hand injury in 2013-14 he was totally useless.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Only a moron or imbecile would suggest Gaudreau will be useless for the rest of this season because of his hand injury.

Why is this rubbish tolerated?

[jayswin]

The really Debbie downer moment right now is looking at the wildcard spots. Both wildcard teams have 25 pts to our 22 pts and both have played three less games. Yeesh.

A three game win streak could have those teams at 31 pts to our 22 pts when games played evens out. It's actually extremely depressing when you look closely as we've felt so much more in the race lately due to more games played.

[calgaryblood]

This is typical Francis. Some might be surprised but I'm not, he always goes with the story that will attract the most attention. If we were in a playoff spot comfortably he would give us reasons why we will fall out. Now that we are comfortably out, that story would not be read.

Nice try Francis.

[bigrangy]

Originally Posted by jayswin

The really Debbie downer moment right now is looking at the wildcard spots. Both wildcard teams have 25 pts to our 22 pts and both have played three less games. Yeesh.

A three game win streak could have those teams at 31 pts to our 22 pts when games played evens out. It's actually extremely depressing when you look closely as we've felt so much more in the race lately due to more games played.

A 3 game win streak is unlikely for those teams because they are also bad.

If the Flames can keep up their play they will at least be in the hunt in March. October may have sunk them but some meaningful games down the stretch will prepare the team for next year.

[Magnum PEI]

Edmonton is sinking fast with only five wins in their last 16, so there is an opening there. Just have to be better than Dallas and Winnipeg.
But I haven't seen anything from this team that would lead me to believe that they can be better than those three teams.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Only a moron or imbecile would suggest Gaudreau will be useless for the rest of this season because of his hand injury.

Why is this rubbish tolerated?

To be fair, a persons hand is the only thing connecting them to the stick....just because he get's clearance on the finger doesn't mean he'll be shooting/handling the puck at his full potential until he's played several games.

He won't be useless out there but I wouldn't expect the Johnny Guadreau we all know and love to be back until he's played some significant minutes after coming back.

[Locke]

Optimism from Eric Francis? Yeah...I knew my cats and my dog were getting along a little too well and even when they told me that wasnt sulfur I was smelling I knew it was!

[Calgary4LIfe]

I will definitely agree that a team usually has a better home record than away record, but that isn't always the case. Didn't the Flames flip-flop somewhat over the last 10 years between being 'awesome' on the road, and 'lousy' at home for a season, then following it up with the complete inverse?

With a team that has high expectations and come out of the gate too slow, I think it becomes more difficult playing at home. Sometimes the best tonic is a long road trip, so hopefully that does the trick. Hopefully it isn't another year of weird home vs away stats.

I wouldn't put money on the Flames making the playoffs this year, but even though they are so far down in point percentage, the Pacific has come out of the gate terribly as a whole, with Edmonton being a bit of the surprise exception who are falling back down as anticipated.

This is a rare year where the Flames can crawl out of the gate and still make the post-season, but they are still behind the 8-ball.

[BigTuna]

I agree with what Francis is saying.

[edslunch]

If the Flames have a hope it will come down to divisional and conference games where they can make up ground directly on the teams they are chasing.

[Vinny01]

Right now it looks bleak but as the article states the Flames are hanging in there despite the top players struggling. If those 5 players Francis mentions really get going in the second half of the season the Flames could be a team that sneaks in.

If this team was losing and Gio/Brodie, and Monahan/Gaudreau were elite combos then there wouldn't be much hope. Considering those 4 and Elliott have proven to be better in the past one could realistically hope they find their game sooner than later

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by blender

He had me until "playoff birth"

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Well when a mommy playoff and a daddy playoff fall in love...

The best part is it was a "miraculous playoff birth". Immaculate conception?

Anyway, the Flames are a better team than last year in terms of balance of play; they actually outshoot their opposition at even strength. The biggest difference is shooting percentage; fewer pucks are going in the other guys' net. Of course they won't make the playoffs, that's absurd, but they're better than where they are in the standings. It's still a rebuild, and it takes time.

[Jason14h]

We've gone full Oilers!

[flamesfan1297]

I believe they will make it!