The stretch run (Western Conference)

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Robo

I would feel better if they had 11 road games and 4 home games

I sure wouldn't.

I don't put much stock in small sample size fluctuations.

The fact of the matter is, teams win more often at home than on the road. Any exception to that is simply random variance.

[CroFlames]

A little off topic, but is Detroit the worst team ever in the salary cap era?

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

A little off topic, but is Detroit the worst team ever in the salary cap era?

I looked at the standings last night and wondered this as well. -120 goal differential and 35 points. They are so so bad.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

A little off topic, but is Detroit the worst team ever in the salary cap era?

Worst single season team, I think without a doubt at this point. Hot garbage.

There is only one worst club in the salary cap era though, right up north!

[Matata]

https://www.hockey-reference.com/friv/playoff_prob.fcgi


Flames most likely to play Edmonton or Colorado in playoffs. There's even an actual chance 2 western canadian teams make it to the second round.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

I sure wouldn't.

I don't put much stock in small sample size fluctuations.

The fact of the matter is, teams win more often at home than on the road. Any exception to that is simply random variance.

Yes, exactly.

I said it in another thread, but I much prefer that the wide variance in the home v. road record bends the way it does, and not the opposite direction. I am much more confident in the Flames's ability to improve their home-ice play than I would be if they were faced with correcting a bad road record.

On the other side of this is a team like Vegas: they have 10 of their remaining 15 games left on the road, where they are essentially a 0.500 team. In those situations, I will take the home-team odds every time.

[Otto-matic]

Originally Posted by Matata

https://www.hockey-reference.com/friv/playoff_prob.fcgi


Flames most likely to play Edmonton or Colorado in playoffs. There's even an actual chance 2 western canadian teams make it to the second round.

I'd rather play Edmonton then Colorado. I think playing Colorado in the 1st round would be worst case scenario for this team.

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by Two Fivenagame

Need that home record to improve.

Rittich hasn't won at home since mid December.

Start Talbot?

Absolutely! Rittich has done himself little favour in the past 2 months to earn himself the outright "Starter" role.

I feel Talbot has been much more consistent in that timeframe. Given the criticality of every game now, they gotta treat each game as a playoff game, and hence, need to start the lineup with the highest probability for Ws. At this point, that's gotta be Talbot in my opinion.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

I'd rather play Edmonton then Colorado. I think playing Colorado in the 1st round would be worst case scenario for this team.

I feel the Flames match up well against Vancouver and Edmonton but I don't think I could stomach a BOA in the current environment. You would have HNIC, the media, and the NHL all pulling for Edmonton as they all want McDavid to go as far as possible in the playoffs because it's good for business. I'm not sure the Flames would get a fair shake in a close series especially given how good the Oilers powerplay is.

[Otto-matic]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I feel the Flames match up well against Vancouver and Edmonton but I don't think I could stomach a BOA in the current environment. You would have HNIC, the media, and the NHL all pulling for Edmonton as they all want McDavid to go as far as possible in the playoffs because it's good for business. I'm not sure the Flames would get a fair shake in a close series especially given how good the Oilers powerplay is.

Ugh true, the oilers love fest would be unbearable.

Hopefully Edmonton hits a slide and Vancouver moves into 3rd while we go into 2nd.

[Monahammer]

An oilers media love fest would just heighten the joy of their downfall. We would definitely beat them in a series, no matter what the reffing situation.

Knowing our luck we draw Colorado again though. Cue 'nam flashbacks.

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

A little off topic, but is Detroit the worst team ever in the salary cap era?

There was a good read on reddit a month ago about some basic stats (GF, GA, diff, win%) and they were definitely one of the worst. I'll try to dig it up.

Quick find:

https://www.reddit.com/r/hockey/comm...ing_the_worst/

[mikephoen]

I think Vancouver is the ideal matchup and at this point I think it would even be better to start on the road against them.

[Textcritic]

Honestly, I like the thought of the Flames starting on the road against pretty much anyone.

[FlamingHabs Fan]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

I looked at the standings last night and wondered this as well. -120 goal differential and 35 points. They are so so bad.

People say it jokingly that such and such a team could be beat by an AHL team. With Detroit, that is honestly true.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

Ugh true, the oilers love fest would be unbearable.

Hopefully Edmonton hits a slide and Vancouver moves into 3rd while we go into 2nd.

To make matters worse they would probably have Dave Randorf call the series and he's smitten with the Oilers. He was on that 960 Vancouver morning show talking about how the Oilers are the best of the western Canadian teams. Vomit inducing radio it was.

[motorcrosser]

Use this.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

Absolutely! Rittich has done himself little favour in the past 2 months to earn himself the outright "Starter" role.

I feel Talbot has been much more consistent in that timeframe. Given the criticality of every game now, they gotta treat each game as a playoff game, and hence, need to start the lineup with the highest probability for Ws. At this point, that's gotta be Talbot in my opinion.

Up until the game in Florida, Talbot hasn't been exactly lights out.

In fact his last 3 starts before then:
Boston: 4 GA, .826
Anaheim: 4 GA, .867
Chicago: 4 GA .692
Prior to that he shut out Anaheim

The issue is that neither goalie has grabbed the net.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

The issue is that neither goalie has grabbed the net.

Bingo. The Flames are one of those teams rolling 1A/1B tandem and it's not ideal but will remain that way until the GM can find a top calibre starting goaltender. They really want Rittich to take the ball and run but for whatever reason he has issues maintaining a high level of play as seasons progress.

[Abatedmean]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Bingo. The Flames are one of those teams rolling 1A/1B tandem and it's not ideal but will remain that way until the GM can find a top calibre starting goaltender. They really want Rittich to take the ball and run but for whatever reason he has issues maintaining a high level of play as seasons progress.

I feel like Rittich really needs his rest and needs to work in a 1A/1B situation. The reason why it hasn't been working is that he has kinda been playing with more of a starter's workload. Maybe he just needs another season t build that ability up. But, for now, I still think we need to shelter him a bit more.