Playoff outcome for the 2018-19 Calgary Flames?

[Boreal]

Please lock this.

We’ve all “been hurt enough”

The only assurance is that there are no assurances.

For every kickass Chicago or LA Stanley Cup team there is a St. Louis or San Jose dud.

The only way to find out what the team is made of is to let them test themselves.

Good night.

[Leo]

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

The Flames are 1st in the conference 13 points up on the last playoff spot after 44 games. Even if they went Oilers level bad for the rest of the season they would still make the playoffs. I do not think it is too early to start talking about playoff expectations or possible first round opponents.

My big worry as a Flames fan this season is a repeat of the early 90s with contending teams going down to heartbreaking first round upsets. I am worried the Flames will go on a late season losing streak to lose the division and get a tough Vegas or San Jose matchup or even if they win the division will end up against Anaheim.

What’s the point in worrying?
It’s hockey
No matter how much you worry no one here can assure you of anything nor will your worrying change anything that happens from now to the end of the season for the flames .just hope for the best for the boys
This teams good I’m sure they’ll make some noise in the playoffs

[Spinach]

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

My big worry as a Flames fan this season is a repeat of the early 90s with contending teams going down to heartbreaking first round upsets. I am worried the Flames will go on a late season losing streak to lose the division and get a tough Vegas or San Jose matchup or even if they win the division will end up against Anaheim.

I wouldn't worry about a major first-round disappointment this season. Just making the playoffs in 2018-19 would be decent progress for this franchise and about what should be expected or hoped for from a team that began a rebuild just 5 1/2 calender years ago. This isn't a team recently coming off a Cup win or one with a veteran core replete with experienced winners at the NHL level.

I get what you're saying, though. Those early-90's playoff losses stung big time. Expectations were probably heightened due to the success of '89. Luckily, this edition has no such expectations, and I'd consider a series win a significant success. Making the conference finals with a young, emerging core (Gio excepted) a la the 2009 Blackhawks would be incredibly sweet.

[Pizza]

Originally Posted by TheRealPepman

Oh please. I'm the realistic fan type.

And I'm also the type of guy who'd laugh at the stuff the Oilers did as of late.

If any of that was true, you wouldn't have made this "realistic" thread

[Spinach]

Originally Posted by TheRealPepman

Oh please. I'm the realistic fan type.

And I'm also the type of guy who'd laugh at the stuff the Oilers did as of late.

Only as of late?

[Gaudfather]

This is Lanny's take from his interview with Cruikshank in The Athletic on Monday.

(Scott Cruikshank) This is the highest they’ve been in the standings since 1989.” Is it fair to compare the two teams?

(Lanny) You really can’t until the playoffs come around. You’ve got to find a way to win – and not only in the regular season. But every time they win a close game or a tough game, that just gets them better prepared for the playoffs.
I really like where they’re at. To be able to watch on the power rankings and see them climb the ladder each and every week, it’s pretty cool. They’re fun to watch. They should be the toast of the town right now.

[Mattman]

I get a there's a fear, but this just doesn't feel like other years. Not everyone can win the cup so naturally there will be heartbreak for team's, hopefully not for these Flames.

Can't we be proud of what this team has done so far, and give them our support, because there is proof in Vegas last year that a team can rally around a strong supportive fan base.

I loved this team when they lost to Chicago in 2008, I loved this team when they struggled to make the playoffs for 6 years, I loved the his team when they got swept by Anaheim.

I'm not saying how far the Flames will go in the playoffs because it's gonna jinx it, but if it came down to a 7 game series in the Western Conference finals vs Nashville or Winnipeg... I think they are the teams who will be on edge to keep up with the Flames.

[TheRealPepman]

Originally Posted by Spinach

Only as of late?

That's because until the early portions of this year, I thought the Oilers would at least be decent/elite-ish. I thought last year was a fluke. I mean - when a team has a generational player, they're expected to do something like win cups right? Obviously it looks like they'll miss again. So really, when all is said and done, E=NG. When Chia traded for Manning and Petrovic, that's when I realized E=NG.

I feel bad for Bieber 97. Bieber 97 has to play elsewhere. Until when Katz will realize it's his old boys club coupled with Chiarelli's incompetence prevents from Edmonton progressing a la Penguins from the start of Crosby era until now?