Flames Schedule Analysis
I take a look at Calgary's stretch drive. "Not going to be easy" might be an understatement.
almost 2 years ago
Kent Wilson
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Are we really going to be calling Vancouver a “powerhouse”? I disgree. Chicago & SJ are definetly Powerhouses but I’m not going to go say that Vancouver is. They’re a very good hockey team but if they were face off against SJ & Chicago and if I were a betting man I know where my money would be.
Point taken that the Flames need to be able to beat these guys to get in the playoffs but I’m perfectly fine with that considering that in all likelihood they’ll be the first round opposition anyways.
Just out of curiosity what’s the line on Detroit and Nashville in this regard?
I’m kind of in between you and Parallex on this one Kent. I think VAN’s a pretty good team but they have horrific issues in their bottom 6 plus the Sedins, while terrific, are not nearly as potent as their counting numbers imply. Plus the team is still riding a hot streak of percentages last I checked.
If the Flames manage to sneak in, I’d be completely unsurprised if they won a round against any team but the Hawks. The San Jose stuff squares with my sense that they’re good, but not a team to be terrified of. If you look at the team 5v5 numbers, they barely outshoot their opposition, and that nice looking 5v5 goal differential comes mostly by riding the best 5v5 SV % in the league. Nabokov’s having a good year, but if they play a team that gets equivalent goaltending, they’re no lock to go deep.
by Robert Cleave on Mar 8, 2010 12:08 PM PST up reply actions
On the Flames: yeah, prognosis weak. But, I still have hope. Colorado can’t possibly keep winning at its pace, especially after losing its probably its #3 difference-maker. Nashville might run into bad luck too. There are reasonable outcomes to be had here that involve the Flames dancing with Chicago or San Jose.
And I don’t get terrified of those matchups to be honest, we’re going to have to go through a power house to win the Cup and it might as well be sooner than later. And this group of forwards is pretty good in my estimation. This ain’t Montreal circa 07-09.
There is one other thing that I’d like to mention. One benefit of Sutter having gone bonkers and outright changing 1/3 of the playing roster is that I no long put much value in the teams past poor results vs folk like the Wild or Avs this season. Sure they may have had the Calgary Flames number this year but it’s a clean slate against the Calgary Maple Rangers.
The Flames main goal is to catch Colorado.
Personally this is the time of year where this type of team starts to shake and fall off just a bit.
If we get in. Bring it I don’t care if it’s Chicago, San Jose whoever. Because for once since the lockout the Flames are chasing not being chased (Outside of 06-07) rather come in on a high then on a low.
What you see is, What you get.
GO FLAMES GO!!!
Maybe I’m too much of an optimist, but I like this team’s chances the rest of the way. You all might point at the schedule and stats and scream “look at this,” so call it blind optimism on my part if you want. The thing is, I believe that Flames can beat any team on any given night…it’s just a simple matter of doing exactly that enough times the rest of the way!
I think Calgary and Detroit will make the playoffs, with Nashville dropping out. I’d say we even have a shot at catching Colorado…they’ve got to crash sometime.
In the playoffs, I’d actually like another crack at Chicago, if only because their goaltending is so shaky. And, the Flames would be entering the post-season with some momentum and confidence, because in order to make it they obviously will have to have a strong finish. Too bad Kipper will likely be dead tired by then.
Catching the Avs is something of a tall order. 8 points back with them possessing all the tiebreakers means they’d have to crash pretty hard. I mean I’d obviously like it not only for the success it’d imply but also because it’d mean a 1st round match-up with the ’nucks with I consider a better match-up then the alternatives.


























