[OOT] March 15 with nine games.

[blender]

Kings put it away

[Otto-matic]

Well that was a crap OOT tonight.

Feel like the only team we can really catch right now is Dallas.

[Karl]

Understatement game of the night.

[blender]

8-3 will catch every team Flames need to catch.

[Karl]

Originally Posted by blender

8-3 will catch every team Flames need to catch.

Only for now, or, only if the other teams don't win any of their games in hand. That's the crux of it.

[blender]

Originally Posted by Karl

Only for now, that's the crux of it.

Pretty sure 96 points will get it done.

Lots of head to head games coming up among teams in the chase.

[djsFlames]

So when do the Kings not play teams that are down and out?

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

So when do the Kings not play teams that are down and out?

Our last 4 games were against non playoff teams.

[Karl]

Originally Posted by blender

Pretty sure 96 points will get it done.

Lots of head to head games coming up among teams in the chase.

There is a good reason why the Flames only have about a 20% chance to make the playoffs right now.

Well of course, it's not technically over right now, and of course people should keep rooting for playoffs to happen until mathematical elimination, but it really feels like it's just a matter of when rather than if the clock strikes 12 on playoff hopes this season.

[blender]

Karl, I don't disagree, but my point was that 8-3 record should get them in regardless of what happens in the OOT.

Not to say that isn't a tall order, obviously.

[direwolf]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

So when do the Kings not play teams that are down and out?

Their last 3 games were all against bottom feeders. No wonder they keep racking up points. They play the Devils next, so hopefully that'll be a tougher test for them. Man, I'm so sick of the Kings.

[Beninho]

Originally Posted by Karl

There is a good reason why the Flames only have about a 20% chance to make the playoffs right now.

Well of course, it's not technically over right now, and of course people should keep rooting for playoffs to happen until mathematical elimination, but it really feels like it's just a matter of when rather than if the clock strikes 12 on playoff hopes this season.

22 pts up for grabs. Season is far from over.

[zamler]

Remaining schedule, could be worse but this will be tough sledding.

Mar 16 SJ
Mar 18 @LV
Mar 19 @ARI
Mar 21 ANA
Mar 24 @SJ
Mar 26 @LA
Mar 29 CLB
Mar 31 EDM
Apr 3 ARI
Apr 5 @WPG
Apr 7 LV

[Karl]

nm.

[Corral]

Originally Posted by Beninho

LA just getting absurdly lucky. They have looked awful. It’s really ridiculous the flames aren’t ahead of them in the standings, the Kings aren’t that good in my opinion. Outside of Kopitar, doughty, Quick there’s a lot of below average players on that roster

people keep saying this about LA SJ and ANA - but they are simply better than most folks here want to admit. Its been like that for years, and likely a couple more yet.

[Corral]

Originally Posted by direwolf

Their last 3 games were all against bottom feeders. No wonder they keep racking up points.

We seem to have trouble doing this 'racking up points against bottom feeders'. There is the single biggest reason why we are on the outside looking in.

[Caged Great]

The one good thing is that all of the other teams play a lot of games against each other.

Min - 6 vs Sj/LA/Col/Dal/Ana/Cgy, 4 vs other elite teams or east playoff teams, 2 vs losers
SJ - 5 vs each other, 4 vs elite/E-PO, 3 vs losers
LA - 7 vs each other, 2 vs elite/E-PO, 2 vs losers
Col - 4 vs each other, 3 vs elite/E-PO, 5 vs losers (likeliest to make the playoffs)
Dal - 5 vs each other, 4 vs elite/E-PO, 3 vs losers
Ana - 5 vs each other, 2 vs elite/E-PO, 4 vs losers
Cgy - 4 vs each other, 4 vs elite/E-PO, 3 vs losers

Calgary has an advantage in that two of the games against elite teams are the last two games of the season, which are meaningless to the opposition, as is the upcoming game against Vegas.

They simply need to take 3/4 vs the other teams in the group, 3/3 vs the loser group and 2/4 vs the elite group. It won't be easy but it is possible. The other teams in the group are going to be playing a ton of games against each other soon, so as long as the OT games are kept to a minimum, it should be okay.

[Samonadreau]

I tend to circle games on the calender. The last one was Tuesday night against the Oil. The next one is the 21st against the ducks. At this points there is 5 teams Jockeying for 2 spots.

(Pts, GP)
- Kings (84, 71) in
- Star (83, 71) in
- Ducks (82, 71)out
- Flames (80; 71)out
- Blues.(79, 70)out.


I am going out on a limb and saying the Avs are in, the top line is in another stratosphere right now and will drag that team into the playoffs kicking and screaming.

One of the Kings, Ducks, or Flames are guaranteed a spot being in the Pacific, with a chance of 2 making it in. So essentially the Flames have 2 paths in

1. Beat out the Kings and Ducks; or
2. Beat out both Central teams and 1 of the other Pacific.

The problem with this scenario is essentially if at least on of the central teams and 1 of the Pacific teams match Calgary's pace to finish the season we are f'd. So while we have to take care of our own business we are going to need some oot help AND take care of these 4 point games. March 21st is a huge 4 point game.

4 point games against these teams down the stretch:
Mar21 vs Ducks
Mar26 @ Kings


Another Wildcard is if we win both games against SJ that's the only way we have a shot at them. They have 5 points and 1 game on us. Meaning the next games I have circled after those are the 2 against SJ.

It's far from over but there's no room for error... can't take one single night off.

[djsFlames]

Simply put, the Flames are going to have to execute on another level than they have for the past 25 games in this last stretch to make it.

Have to find ways to take points from the California teams (IMO win at least 3 of 4 of those) and LV here. We can afford 3 losses so let's hope they're sandwiched between a lot of wins.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Flames just need to do their thing and win games. There's always a team or two that falls and crumbles, we simply cannot allow ourselves to be that team.