Calgary Flames

Mapping the Calgary Flames’ path to the playoffs: Six games left on the schedule

The Calgary Flames find themselves in the middle of the Western Conference Wild Card race. With just a few games remaining in the regular season, The Win Column will be mapping out the current playoff picture and assessing how the Flames would be able to punch their ticket to the Stanley Cup Playoffs over the Nashville Predators and Winnipeg Jets.


What’s happened since

Each of the three teams being tracked have played a game since our last post, and all three teams earned victories.

The Calgary Flames earned their first third period comeback of the season against the Vancouver Canuks on Friday night. The Winnipeg Jets demolished the Detroit Red Wings on the same night. Finally, in yesterday’s matinee matchup the Nashville Predators made quick work of the St, Louis Blues.

Each team secured their two points, while the Predators still retained their game in hand on the Flames and Jets.

Remaining schedules

85 Points87 Points84 Points
vs ANAvs NJ@ DAL
vs CHIvs CGYvs VGK
@ WINvs NSHvs CAR
@ VANvs SJ@ WIN
vs NSH@ MIN@ CGY
vs SJ@ COLvs MIN
vs COL

The Flames were fortunate enough to squeeze out the two points in Vancouver, and are heading into two very easy opponents in the Ducks and Blackhawks.

The same cannot be said for the Jets and Predators, who will face some of their stiffest competition left in their schedule over their next few contests.

Calgary’s path to the playoffs

After each team’s most recent game, here is how things shake out:

@ VAN2vs DET2vs STL2
vs ANA2vs NJ1@ DAL2
vs CHI2vs CGY0vs VGK0
@ WIN2vs NSH2vs CAR0
@ VAN0vs SJ2@ WIN0
vs NSH1@ MIN0@ CGY2
vs SJ2@ COL0vs MIN1
vs COL1
CGY POINTS94WIN POINTS92NSH POINTS90

There was no change to our projections in both suggested models. All three teams picked up their two points, as predicted, and keep pace with the projections.

The next game could be the first real shift for our predictions, as the Jets and Predators could be a flip flop in terms of how many points they earn. The Flames should follow the wins until the anticipated Winnipeg matchup.

What’s up next in the schedule

The Flames host the Anaheim Ducks on an earlier Sunday start. The Flames are 2–1–0 against the Ducks this season, with their last matchup coming just five games ago in a 5–1 Flames victory. This should be a pretty simple repeat, which would end up being the Flames first four-game win streak of the season.

The Jets host the New Jersey Devils on Sunday as well, where they will look to avenge their 4–2 loss earlier in the season. The Devils currently sit just one point back of the Carolina Hurricanes for first in the Metropolitan Division, meaning this isn’t a simple rest game for the young squad from Jersey.

The Predators don’t play again until Monday, where they will travel to Dallas to take on the Stars. Flames fans will be happy to hear that the Predators are 0–3–0 against the Stars. Perhaps a clean sweep by Dallas will be exactly what’s needed to change the tide of the race.

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