The stretch run

[FlameX]

I'm as nervous as ever for the playoffs because of what Winnipeg, Vegas and SJ got in the trade deadline. Calgary got N O T H I N G. Oscar doesn't really matter. Those teams I just listed having scoring depth, we don't have as much. Our bottom 6 aren't really goal scorers. I know they've been better in these past few games but there is a huge drop off after Gio in points.

I think Brad should've gone for SOMEONE who could helped us out a lot in the playoffs. I think we'll have trouble getting past the second round if we don't choke in the first.

[Salt Water Cowboy #10]

Originally Posted by FlameX

I'm as nervous as ever for the playoffs because of what Winnipeg, Vegas and SJ got in the trade deadline. Calgary got N O T H I N G. Oscar doesn't really matter. Those teams I just listed having scoring depth, we don't have as much. Our bottom 6 aren't really goal scorers. I know they've been better in these past few games but there is a huge drop off after Gio in points.

I think Brad should've gone for SOMEONE who could helped us out a lot in the playoffs. I think we'll have trouble getting past the second round if we don't choke in the first.

No point watching I guess. Only way to win in the playoffs is to grab someone at the trade deadline.
I think they’ll be fine. Unless there is an injury or two, and the goalies play average or above. And they’ll compete for years to come because they still have depth and assets

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by FlameX

I'm as nervous as ever for the playoffs because of what Winnipeg, Vegas and SJ got in the trade deadline. Calgary got N O T H I N G. Oscar doesn't really matter. Those teams I just listed having scoring depth, we don't have as much. Our bottom 6 aren't really goal scorers. I know they've been better in these past few games but there is a huge drop off after Gio in points.

I think Brad should've gone for SOMEONE who could helped us out a lot in the playoffs. I think we'll have trouble getting past the second round if we don't choke in the first.

We're the 2nd best scoring team. Why are you such a nervous nelly?

[Strange Brew]

I’m nervous for the playoffs too. What a great feeling!

[Robbob]

Big night with the win and SJ loss. Keep it going. Probably by Saturday the Flames will start hitting the magic number for those basement dwellers. Tick tock LA, your time is almost up.

[Tsawwassen]

After Tuesday's games

Flames, Blues, and Knights won in regulation
Sharks, Predators, and Jets lost in regulation


1. Calgary (40-16-7) 40 ROW, 87 pts--first in the Western Conference and in the Pacific Division (2nd overall)
2. San Jose (37-19-8) 37 ROW, 82 pts--second in the Pacific Division
3. Nashville (37-24-5) 35 ROW, 79 pts--first in the Central Division
4. Winnipeg (37-22-4) 35 ROW, 78 pts--second in the Central Division
5. St. Louis (34-23-6) 33 ROW, 74 pts--third in the Central Division
6. Las Vegas (33-26-5) 31 ROW, 71 pts--third in the Pacific Division

[The Boy Wonder]

I am getting nervous about goaltending for the playoffs.

We haven't seen smith play this well since maybe october - november 2017 and now we are 19 games from the playoffs.

Yes that is a quarter of the season but I am concerned that Smith is peaking too early.

It is great that he is playing well right now, but I don't think it is sustainable for the next month let alone 2 or 3 months.

But hopefully this longer string of smith playing like an actual NHL goalie will help Rittich get rested up and ready for the playoffs

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by The Boy Wonder

I am getting nervous about goaltending for the playoffs.

We haven't seen smith play this well since maybe october - november 2017 and now we are 19 games from the playoffs.

Yes that is a quarter of the season but I am concerned that Smith is peaking too early.

It is great that he is playing well right now, but I don't think it is sustainable for the next month let alone 2 or 3 months.

But hopefully this longer string of smith playing like an actual NHL goalie will help Rittich get rested up and ready for the playoffs

Come on, he is just warming up, and the calendar is just about turning over to March. The timing is pretty much perfect. They will probably play about 10 games each the rest of the way, with very little travel.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Come on, he is just warming up, and the calendar is just about turning over to March. The timing is pretty much perfect. They will probably play about 10 games each the rest of the way, with very little travel.

I am convinced that it is impossible for The Boy Wonder to give Mike Smith any credit.

[FlamesKickAss]

Originally Posted by Robbob

Big night with the win and SJ loss. Keep it going. Probably by Saturday the Flames will start hitting the magic number for those basement dwellers. Tick tock LA, your time is almost up.

If I did my math right LA's is 2, Anaheim is 4, Edmonton is 6

Colorado is 8.5 which clinches playoffs

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by FlamesKickAss

If I did my math right LA's is 2, Anaheim is 4, Edmonton is 6

Colorado is 8.5 which clinches playoffs

Colorado is irrelevant. Unless someone in the division catches us (ARI, VAN, EDM lol), we remain no worse than 3rd in the division.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by The Boy Wonder

I am getting nervous about goaltending for the playoffs.

We haven't seen smith play this well since maybe october - november 2017 and now we are 19 games from the playoffs.

Yes that is a quarter of the season but I am concerned that Smith is peaking too early.

It is great that he is playing well right now, but I don't think it is sustainable for the next month let alone 2 or 3 months.

But hopefully this longer string of smith playing like an actual NHL goalie will help Rittich get rested up and ready for the playoffs

Jesus - plays badly all year and gets criticized. Now he's playing much better and he's peaking too early.

Maybe Bennett is peaking too early as well - started out pretty badly (3 points in October), and is playing his best right now.

[Vinny01]

Flames can go 6-13 to get to 99pts
Oilers need to go 20-0 to match that point total

[FlamesKickAss]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Colorado is irrelevant. Unless someone in the division catches us (ARI, VAN, EDM lol), we remain no worse than 3rd in the division.

Playoff number is 8 then to Arizona

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Flames can go 6-13 to get to 99pts
Oilers need to go 20-0 to match that point total

Funny thing is even if they win all those in regulation, we only need to win 4 in regulation to finish ahead of them in ROW.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by FlamesKickAss

If I did my math right LA's is 2, Anaheim is 4, Edmonton is 6

Colorado is 8.5 which clinches playoffs

Technically you add the .5 so that tie breakers are not required. If LA won out and Calgary only won 2 games not in regulation, both would be at 91 points. Both would have 40 ROW.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

February is tough...

Will be great test. May be first time they face any real adversity? Potential is there. Hopefully not

Originally Posted by transplant99

Yeah that month is as ugly a travel schedule as i ever remember seeing.

...I would think if they can come out of this month with 16 of the 26 pts available, they will be in very good shape to finish on top of the division and likely the conference as March sets up for some real success as well.

Originally Posted by Duffalufagus

This Feb stretch is going to tell us a lot about what kind of team we have. Tough schedule against good teams with lots of travel...

Originally Posted by Duffalufagus

If they navigate this month at something like .550 they win the div imo. February is the first big test to see what we have here.

Good news, friends!

The Flames enter Game #13 of a tough month with a 7-3-2 record. They will finish at worst with a possible 16 of 26 pts, which is identical to transplant99's hopeful prediction on 29 January. That is a 0.615 winning percentage, which is well above Duffalufagus's expectation from 31 January that 0.550 would be enough to win the Division.

This sets the Flames in excellent shape for the final five weeks of the season, and leaves them as very heavy favourites to win the Pacific.

What a fantastic team.

[Sylvanfan]

18 out of 26 points in February with that much travel is pretty impressive. That's a .692 point percentage. I said they would do well to be .550 in this month.

Looking forward to an even better March. Top line is about to get going again here.

[Tsawwassen]

After Wednesday's games

Flames won in regulation


1. Calgary (41-16-7) 41 ROW, 89 pts--first in the Western Conference and in the Pacific Division (2nd overall)
2. San Jose (37-19-8) 37 ROW, 82 pts--second in the Pacific Division
3. Nashville (37-24-5) 35 ROW, 79 pts--first in the Central Division
4. Winnipeg (37-22-4) 35 ROW, 78 pts--second in the Central Division
5. St. Louis (34-23-6) 33 ROW, 74 pts--third in the Central Division


The Knights have been dropped from the list as they are now fighting to keep a playoff spot. The Knights are only 6 points up on the 10th place Coyotes.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Tsawwassen

The Knights have been dropped from the list as they are now fighting to keep a playoff spot. The Knights are only 6 points up on the 10th place Coyotes.

It would be sweet for the Yotes to knock out the Knights. But for a WC, not for third place. They are my dream first round opponent.