Calgary Flames can still make playoffs if one of these scenarios plays out
The Calgary Flames’ playoff chances hit a new low last night, but they can’t be written off just yet.
The Flames were able to pick up just one point in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks, on a night where the Minnesota Wild picked up two in an 8-7 overtime win over the San Jose Sharks.
All of a sudden, it appears the Flames’ best team of surpassing in the standings for a playoff spot is the St. Louis Blues, who they hold two games in hand on.
NHL.com
The Flames currently trail both the Wild and Blues by five points. With only four games remaining on their schedule, they can max out at 96 points.
For the Wild, that means they only need three points in their final three games to clinch a spot. They currently have 33 regulation wins, which is the first tiebreaker when it comes to playoff implications. The Flames cannot hit that marker with 28 regulation wins thus far.
As for the Blues, they do sit with just 31 regulation wins, which the Flames could surpass. That said, the second tie breaker is then regulation and overtime wins. The Blues have 39 to the Flames’ 33.
If the Blues were to win just one of their two final games, that would mean the Flames would have to win out to have any opportunity of catching them.
The Flames’ season is essentially on the line Friday night. They are set to take on the Wild. If they were to lose in regulation, the Wild would punch their ticket into the playoffs, and the Blues would need just a single point to do the same.
As for the Blues, who are currently one of the hottest teams in the NHL, their final two games will be against the Seattle Kraken and the Utah Hockey Club. The Wild, meanwhile, will go up against the Flames before taking on the Vancouver Canucks and the Ducks.
Strength of schedule isn’t in the Flames’ favour, as two of their final four games will be against the Vegas Golden Knights and LA Kings.
Their playoff hopes aren’t completely over just yet, but they are now hanging by a thread following last night’s outcomes.