Heavy on road games in which the team has struggled isn't it?
If the Flames improve on the road and go .500 the rest of the way that would give them an additional 13 points, taking them to 37. If they need 55 points to make it into 8th place, they only need to go 9-1 at home the rest of the way to make the playoffs.
Unfortunately if they maintain their current pace on the road they will go 5-8 the rest of the way and they will need to go 10-0 at home and hope that the magic number goes down to 54 to make the playoffs.
Our only 2 plus players are Matt Stajan at +9 and Lee Stempniak at +6. Followed closely by Akim Aliu and TJ Brodie at 0. How good have Stemps and Staj been for us? Stajan for Selke?
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"You know, that's kinda why I came here, to show that I don't suck that much" ~ Devin Cooley, Professional Goaltender
Our only 2 plus players are Matt Stajan at +9 and Lee Stempniak at +6. Followed closely by Akim Aliu and TJ Brodie at 0. How good have Stemps and Staj been for us? Stajan for Selke?
In a lot of ways, Stajan and Bouwmeester have been our MVP's. Best overall players on the ice most nights.
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Our only 2 plus players are Matt Stajan at +9 and Lee Stempniak at +6. Followed closely by Akim Aliu and TJ Brodie at 0. How good have Stemps and Staj been for us? Stajan for Selke?
If the Flames improve on the road and go .500 the rest of the way that would give them an additional 13 points, taking them to 37. If they need 55 points to make it into 8th place, they only need to go 9-1 at home the rest of the way to make the playoffs.
Unfortunately if they maintain their current pace on the road they will go 5-8 the rest of the way and they will need to go 10-0 at home and hope that the magic number goes down to 54 to make the playoffs.
Look at the Flames 6 road losses this year: in Vancouver, in Phoenix, in Colorado, in Anaheim, in LA, in LA. So 5 of the 6 losses against those big teams the Flames will struggle against.
Of the 13 road games left, only 3 are against the big teas I mentioned in my earlier post: 1 more in Vancouver and 2 in Chicago.
It's not a creampuff schedule from here on out, but the team is only 4 points out and has a lot of winnable games ahead.
Like I said, dare to dream. IMO, it's a better way to live than wallowing in negativity.
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Just got back from the game - oh boy did the planets align on that win.
The first 10 minutes of the game was probably the worst bit of fundamental hockey I have seen an NHL team play in a very long time. Couldn't break out, constant giveaways, could barely complete a pass. Even the goal by Tangs was a very fortunate bounce.
Then there was the 3 minute disaster in the Flames zone - Detroit could have potted 2 or 3 if it wasn't for Kiprusoff. They played a bit better in the 2nd, but picked it up in the 3rd.
By the way, Kipper was absolutely unreal. Saved probably 3-4 goals in the first period alone. Just a beast throughout the entire night, probably running off the hatred from getting sat out. He is the only reason the Flames were in a position to win. If anyone else is in net, Detroit may win 6-5.
Meanwhile Joey MacDonald is probably sitting on the Flames bench thinking "I got waived for that??". The Monster was complete and utter garbage. The first 2 goals were pretty fortunate bounces for the Flames, but he looked awful all night. No clue what he was doing on that third goal.
Overall it was a nice win, but I wouldn't be looking for the players (aside from Kiprusoff) to carry over any of the behavior they displayed in that game if they want to keep it going.
Look at the Flames 6 road losses this year: in Vancouver, in Phoenix, in Colorado, in Anaheim, in LA, in LA. So 5 of the 6 losses against those big teams the Flames will struggle against.
Of the 13 road games left, only 3 are against the big teas I mentioned in my earlier post: 1 more in Vancouver and 2 in Chicago.
It's not a creampuff schedule from here on out, but the team is only 4 points out and has a lot of winnable games ahead.
Like I said, dare to dream. IMO, it's a better way to live than wallowing in negativity.
I agree. I won't give up until mathematical elimination, but if we are still anywhere from 13th to 15th by the trade deadline, the team MUST trade some assets away for future talent.
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"You know, that's kinda why I came here, to show that I don't suck that much" ~ Devin Cooley, Professional Goaltender
Just got back from the game - oh boy did the planets align on that win.
The first 10 minutes of the game was probably the worst bit of fundamental hockey I have seen an NHL team play in a very long time. Couldn't break out, constant giveaways, could barely complete a pass. Even the goal by Tangs was a very fortunate bounce.
Then there was the 3 minute disaster in the Flames zone - Detroit could have potted 2 or 3 if it wasn't for Kiprusoff. They played a bit better in the 2nd, but picked it up in the 3rd.
By the way, Kipper was absolutely unreal. Saved probably 3-4 goals in the first period alone. Just a beast throughout the entire night, probably running off the hatred from getting sat out. He is the only reason the Flames were in a position to win. If anyone else is in net, Detroit may win 6-5.
Meanwhile Joey MacDonald is probably sitting on the Flames bench thinking "I got waived for that??". The Monster was complete and utter garbage. The first 2 goals were pretty fortunate bounces for the Flames, but he looked awful all night. No clue what he was doing on that first goal.
Overall it was a nice win, but I wouldn't be looking for the players (aside from Kiprusoff) to carry over any of the behavior they displayed in that game if they want to keep it going.
I agree with just about everything you said.
Calgary goaltending > Detroit goaltending.
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"You know, that's kinda why I came here, to show that I don't suck that much" ~ Devin Cooley, Professional Goaltender
As nice as tonight is, and as much as I love to see some optimism for a change, I don't think anybody should be making anything out of this (I certainly am not) until they've strung at Least 5 together. Because to get in I think it will require them going on at least one streak of that length or more between now and the end of the season, then about .600 hockey otherwise.
Sad to say I actually forgot about the game tonight until around the start of the 3rd. That hasn't happened in a few seasons.. But for good reason. This weekend really was a back breaker for the fans. After falling on their faces with that 3 game disaster, 1 game the other way doesn't do enough to heal those wounds, let alone set our thoughts on playoffs.
I pray they can turn this into a lengthy streak. Right now would be perfect.. as they could actually catch Vancouver and Minnesota with a hot run. And you can't forget, tops in the division is an automatic playoff seed. But they seriously need to string some games first. And more than 2!
Well hopefully the Flames remain healthy for the rest of the year, they have been one of if not the healthiest team in the NHL so far this season. Amongst players that are currently good enough to make the NHL, the Flames have lost 25 man games this year. That is remarkable actually to be that healthy this late into a short season. Their relative health has kept them in the race so far.
Happy for the win, but it's going to take more than one game where the Flames mostly benefit from poor opposition goaltending/defense for me to get sucked into the vortex of hope again.
