The road to the postseason will have to be paved with blood, sweat, and tears if the Calgary Flames want to contend for the Stanley Cup this Spring.
Following Tuesday night’s 3-0 loss to the nearly non-contender Columbus Blue Jackets, Calgary faces the final nine games down the stretch all against divisional rivals.
While the Minnesota Wild (87 points) hold first place in the Northwest Division right now, Calgary, the Vancouver Canucks, and Colorado Avalanche (each with 84 points) are tangled up chasing what promises to be the only home-ice advantage available in their division.
These top four NW teams all carry an equal opportunity into the next few weeks, but with a constant stream of four-point games, one club will step up and steal enough points for the division title.
Each team will want to win their games in regulation to avoid giving up the dreaded three-point event.
Calgary’s near future is very much up in the air. The last thing the Flames want is to have their fate floating in the clouds until Game 82. Recent losses against Washington Capitals, Atlanta Thrashers and Columbus have been wasted opportunities to solidify the top standing.
Two games apiece remain versus the Avs, Wild and Oilers, three against Vancouver, and there is no more time or room for error—even the Edmonton Oilers, who have been considered out of playoff contention for ages have pulled within sight of the target by winning nine of their last 11 games.
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While Edmonton may not qualify, they will have two more chances to rob the Flames of much-needed points.
Other teams will be equally eager to limit Calgary by winning games and wearing down the Flames in the run up to April. The Flames will need to find consistently high intensity over the last weeks to find advantage over four other desperate teams fighting for the same points.
The roster should be up to the challenge with players of all strengths on board. That being said, they have wavered before despite having one of the top lineups in the division and the West.
At this point they cannot afford lapses of discipline. They not only have to make it to the postseason, but they have to be ready to play four rounds—Calgary needs to find a way to sustain the bursts of brilliance they've demonstrated sporadically throughout the year.
Success will mean utilising the impressive arsenal at Calgary’s disposal and digging deep to find the drive that all four lines will need to play consistently. Scoring is not the main concern, although Jarome Iginla has a chance to record his second 50-goal season.
The Flames play some of the best hockey in the League when they put together a full 60-minute effort, play positional hockey and work their style of game as a team. From the goal-line forward this roster is built to win, but when they allow themselves to be taken out of their game plan they tend to stop playing as a cohesive unit.
Plays are sloppy, mistakes occur, and they no longer bear any resemblance to the squad the NHL learned to fear only a short time ago. They are capable of reaching the top, but they will have to break some poor habits first if they want to actually accomplish that and go on to have a fruitful postseason.
If they can’t get it together, all the issues will rise to the surface once more, this time with a vengeance. Three coaches in three years. A beefed up roster creating the most talented team Calgary has seen in years. More goals for, but more goals against. More wins on the road, fewer at home. Major players signed to long-term contracts. A Jekyll and Hyde team that can present any face at any time. When they look good they look very, very good, but when they look bad they look horrid!
There is no reason known outside Saddledome walls as to why a squad like this has so much difficulty. Whether it is a lack of focus or a lack of discipline, folks within the Flames organisation insist the players are driven to play well and win the Cup.
It is time to realise that there is nothing left to be taken for granted; from here on out it’s got to be good hard graft by the lads in red, because no one out there is in any mood to be charitable.
They will have to show up on the ice soon, because all the positive chatter in world won’t get you into the playoffs for free.
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5 months ago
Each club will want to win in regulation to avoid giving up extra points to rivals.
5 months ago
It is great top see an article on the best team in the Western Conference.
The Northwest Conference is the most competitive conference in the NHL...even a weak sister like Edmonton has been capable of showing dominance...I'm looking forward to reading more about the Flames so keep it up.
5 months ago
No truer staement exists to descride the NW predicament.
5 months ago
This weekend should make the play-off picture clearer...1 team should find themselves closer to Edmonton then Detroit.
5 months ago
1 Team will define themselves as the favourite....I'm hopeful the Flames are that team.!!!!!
5 months ago
A Jekyll and Hyde team indeed ...losing to Columbus 3-0 and then beating Colorado 2-1...It begs the question which team will show up Saturday....I've heard it said that Mike Keenan take the playoffs very seriously....will that transfer over to his new charges?
5 months ago
Minnesota has recently been Calgary's easiset opponent...they have a great record against them at home.
5 months ago
I just finished reading all of your articles, they have a definite flow from article to article that cover the same ground but from different angles. Your article about the losses to the Canucks and Oilers was a smart way to blend to back to back games the fact that the losses were so different only lends more to the story. I really enjoyed your two punch combination Fight article, sometimes pouring over dozens of websites trying to find a formula can be daunting but both articles had a symbitioc relationship (one relying on the other). To have those articles juxtaposed by those denegrating the sport of hockey (J.Roy debacle) was also perfect timing. To now have someone to continue reading whom I know does the dirty work is also perfect timing. I've been a Leafs fan for my entire life but over the last year have really grown to admire the Western Conference, you have done a great job in capturing a group of teams that here on the east coast get little or no coverage. The fact that Jarome Iginla is going to hit 50 goals has largely gone unoticed and it really does'nt make any sense. How can such a great players rep only reside in the west.
Sorry for the lenght of my comment. I really don't have the confidence to write myself but have the utmost respect for those who really can. looking forward to more from you.thx.
from 5 months ago
Thanks for the generous feedback.
I think you should have the confidence to write, especially in a forum such as this. BR's editing process means that if you don't catch something, someone else will, and one improves as one continues. If I/anyone else one BR can be of help, let us know! People seem eager to help out in what is a great community of sports-fans!
I am also a Leafs fan... I feel your pain.
5 months ago
Cool comments
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