The Eternal Optimists Thread

[Finger Cookin]

The pace has fallen off a bit, the club is currently on track for about 92 points. That's not quite going to get it done, but 4 or 5 extra wins in the last 21 to get to 96 or 97 points should. Razor thin margins in the home stretch.

[Classic_Sniper]

I know the stretch here has looked grim. But honestly, I made a list of the entire remaining schedule a while back and I had us losing against Boston and Vegas. So I'm actually not surprised by the results.

This was the toughest part of the schedule and now that we're done it, we play 11-12 games against teams outside of a playoff position. If we can take care of business against most of these teams, we still have a shot at a wild card position.

The upcoming schedules of the 3 current playoff central teams looks very very difficult as well, so if they start losing more and more of these tough games and head to head matchups, our chances increase greatly.

Everyone needs to stop looking at just the Pacific division as our only way in. It's getting very annoying that so many people have discounted the Widecard positions for whatever reason.

[SuperMatt18]

Arizona
Colorado
Dallas
Colorado
Rangers
Pittsburgh
Buffalo
Ottawa
Islanders
Edmonton
San Jose
Vegas
Arizona
Anaheim
San Jose
Columbus
Edmonton
Arizona
Winnipeg
Vegas

The need to go at least 6-2-2 in the 10 games against the teams that are clearly below them in the standings.

Plus if they can also go 3-2 against the stronger non-divisional teams (COL x 2, WPG, PIT, DAL)

Then 3-2 in the big divisional games (VGKx2, SJSx2, ANA).

That would put them at 12-6-2 over the last 20 games of the season and they would finish with 95 points which would be the brink of a wild card spot.

It won't be easy but really it will come down to beating the teams that are below them in the standings to get it done - while hoping the Central teams beat each other up without going to OT.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

The pace has fallen off a bit, the club is currently on track for about 92 points. That's not quite going to get it done, but 4 or 5 extra wins in the last 21 to get to 96 or 97 points should. Razor thin margins in the home stretch.

I’d be more optimistic if I saw the team bearing down. The teams ahead of us started their stretch runs a while ago.

[dino7c]

The central wilcard teams haven't been playing very good

[Robbob]

I posted this in another thread, that the pack teams have 141 games remaining and 34 are head to head with each other. There is the potential for a lot of movement over the next 45 days as the head to head games limit the amount of points available.

Bottom line, 2 and 3 points of back of the last two WC spots. 4 points back of the 3rd PAC spot with a game in hand and we play Anaheim. We even play SJ twice still and are 5 points back. Everything is very much up for grabs.

[Tsawwassen]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

Don't Stop Believing! The Flames are still only 4 points back of the Sharks and for eternal optimism, the Knights can still be caught for 1st place in the western conf. GO FLAMES.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

It's getting tougher and tougher for even an optimist like myself to believe in this team. There's just an element missing. Call it "tough to play against" or "intestinal fortitude" or whatever you want, but it doesn't seem to be there for most of this team. Mentally fragile, especially lately. If that's because of Gulutzan's methods, then perhaps a change is in order, but I'm far from sure that he's the problem.

[jlh2640]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

It's getting tougher and tougher for even an optimist like myself to believe in this team. There's just an element missing. Call it "tough to play against" or "intestinal fortitude" or whatever you want, but it doesn't seem to be there for most of this team. Mentally fragile, especially lately. If that's because of Gulutzan's methods, then perhaps a change is in order, but I'm far from sure that he's the problem.

The biggest thing they are lacking in my opinion (other then another coach) is a 24 year old Jarome Iginla. They need him to come back in his prime reincarnated. Right handed great shot. Winner. Leadership. Toughness and someone who can do it all. Dare to dream.

[FireGilbert]

Originally Posted by jlh2640

The biggest thing they are lacking in my opinion (other then another coach) is a 24 year old Jarome Iginla. They need him to come back in his prime reincarnated. Right handed great shot. Winner. Leadership. Toughness and someone who can do it all. Dare to dream.

Wrong thread? They are a point out of the playoffs with a fifth of the season to play. I'm not getting pessimistic quite yet.

[jlh2640]

Maybe if we’re going to clone Jarome. Let’s clone Regehr and Miikka as well

[jlh2640]

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

Wrong thread? They are a point out of the playoffs with a fifth of the season to play. I'm not getting pessimistic quite yet.

I’m just responding to the previous posters comment on something is missing.
However. I have been known to be quite pessimistic. So you do raise a good point. I dunno man. I just have seen to many patterns lately that tell me otherwise. God I would love to Be proven wrong and be optimistic. Since this is the purpose of this thread.

[Buff]

I'm optimistic that we'll get a better coach next year and take top in the division!

...wrong way to be optimistic or just bad timing?

[The Boy Wonder]

Im gonna give this whole optimism thing a try.

Despite the flames not being able to put together more than about 3 complete games this season (where attacking, defending, goaltending and special teams were all clicking) I think they still have a chance, we haven’t seen them go on any sort of real run yet and I think they are due. Even the 7game win streak wasn’t their best hockey of the season, aside from the Tampa game.

There is a very good chance that they could win 6 of the next 6, the pens are reeling with questionable goaltending just like us so we can win there, and the rest of the games are easily winnable. If you win these six or even five of six you’re sitting at 83-85 points and only need ~10 points out of the last 11 games to hit the alledged magic number (I think we may need a bit more than that with how many 3pount games there’s been)

Now is the time to go on a little win streak and get some momentum building up

[smiggy77]

Originally Posted by Buff

I'm optimistic that we'll get a better coach next year and take top in the division!

...wrong way to be optimistic or just bad timing?

Congrats...you're hilarious...

The point of this eternal optimist thread is to throw the losses behind us and focus on moving forward. Because of poor posters like you that constantly cry about the same thing in every thread, this place is way to bogged down for people to actually talk hockey and the remainder of this season.

For us who want to look at the season holistically and not stand on the ledge game in and game out, this is the thread where we can. Add something of value, otherwise go cry on the other threads like you have been doing so.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Tsawwassen

Don't Stop Believing! The Flames are still only 4 points back of the Sharks and for eternal optimism, the Knights can still be caught for 1st place in the western conf. GO FLAMES.

...and we have 2 games against SJ. One game at a time. Let's get that win against the rags and use it as a springboard for a streak.

We are definitely going streaking!

[kevman]

Tough slugging around these parts.

They've dug themselves a hole but I still believe. A big win tonight will be just what the doctor ordered to get on a bit of a roll.

[SuperMatt18]

Edmonton - W
San Jose - ?
Vegas - ?
Arizona - W
Anaheim - ?
San Jose -?
Los Angeles - ?
Columbus - W
Edmonton - W
Arizona - W
Winnipeg -?
Vegas - ?

The way I look at they have 5 games against bottom feeders they need to win Edmonton X 2, Arizona X 2 , & Columbus (slumping and Jones is hurt).

Then in the 7 other games (San Jose X 2, Las Vegas X2, LA, Anaheim, Winnipeg) they would just need a split (3-3-1).

That would be a 8-3-1 finish and 95 points. Would be close but still possible to get in IMO. Just need some of the percentages to turn around at home AND to beat the damn Oilers.

Knowing this team though they will go 1-3-1 against the bottom feeders, win 6 of 7 against the hard teams and then miss the playoffs by a point.

[Classic_Sniper]

I forecasted wins and loses for the rest of the schedule that would get us to 95 points and I had us beating the Islanders and losing to the Oilers tonight. So if they win tonight instead, then they can still keep up with the pace that I had projected.

But they're running out of runway and that Islanders loss hurt. So they better pick up their game now because the schedule will start getting tougher than the last 3 opponents.