Flames Prevail Over Avalanche in Do-Or-Die Situation

The fat lady is warming up her vocal chords.

Colorado played a good game, and if it weren't for a ten bell performance by Flames goalie Mikka Kiprusoff, they probably would have walked away with at least a point. But, they didn't; instead, they continued their late season skid, now only winners of one out of their past eight.

Before the season started, Calgary was the team everyone thought would be in the playoffs. They had the seasoned veterans like Iginla, Regehr, and Kipprusoff. They were the ones who had been to the playoffs the past five straight seasons.

The Avalanche, the consensus worst NHL team coming into the season, gave them a real run for their money. But through all the Flames mediocrity, their veterans stepped up down the stretch and that's why I believe they'll bump Colorado out of the playoff picture in their final four games.

Despite leading the Northwest division for the majority of the season, whispers will now begin to arise, asking the same questions the media and fans were asking last summer. Is Craig Anderson a starting-caliber goalie? Can Paul Stastny lead this team to the playoffs? Should the Avalanche have chosen Joe Sacco as their head coach?

If we looked at the last 10 games, the more short-sighted observer of the team would probably answer "no" to all of those questions.

Nevertheless, the season has been a success due in large part to those three persons.

Sacco has coached the youngest team in the NHL to within points of a final playoff spot when people thought they'd be selecting 1st overall at the NHL Entry Draft this summer.

Anderson played outstanding in goal, despite having a slow, turn-over prone defense in front of him.

Stastny has scored at nearly a point per game pace despite having revolving linemates.

Regardless of what happens in the Avalanche's five games, the year has been a success. No one thought Colorado would sniff at a playoff position last year after they won only six of their final 25 games, but after a couple of trades and a few smart draft picks, viola, they're back in the playoff mix.

With all three tiebreakers over Calgary (wins, season series, goals, respectively) and a game in hand (including a game against 30th placed Edmonton), there's a chance the Avalanche can get this train back on track. But if they don't, there's no reason for fans to be disheartened.