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Calgary Flames will make the playoffs if one of these four things happen

Rob Williams
Rob Williams
|
Apr 14 2025, 8:52 pm
Calgary Flames will make the playoffs if one of these four things happen
Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images

So you’re telling me there’s a chance.

The Calgary Flames have entered the final week of the NHL season, and yes, they do still have a chance in the chase for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

And after a 5-2 win over the San Jose Sharks on Sunday, the math is becoming clearer.

With two games left, the Flames must pick up points in both of them to have a chance. If they do that and the Minnesota Wild or St. Louis Blues slip up in their final game, Calgary will be heading to the playoffs for the first time since 2022.

nhl standings apr 14 2025

Calgary can still catch Minnesota and St. Louis (NHL PR)

The Flames are still a long shot, with 13.6 per cent odds to make the playoffs per MoneyPuck. But their odds will improve dramatically if Tuesday plays out in their favour.

Calgary, Minnesota, and St. Louis are all in action with home games Tuesday night. The Wild will be out of reach if they pick up a single point in their game against Anaheim Ducks. The Blues will be out of reach if they win in regulation.

The Flames play at home to the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday and finish the season Thursday on the road against the Los Angeles Kings.

These are the scenarios that will result in the Flames making the playoffs:

  • Calgary wins last two games and Minnesota loses in regulation
  • Calgary wins last two games and St. Louis loses in regulation, overtime, or shootout
  • Calgary wins last two games in regulation and St. Louis wins, but not in regulation
  • Calgary wins once, loses once in overtime/shootout and St. Louis loses in regulation

If the Flames squeak into the final playoff spot, they would play the Central Division champion Winnipeg Jets in the first round as the second wild card team. If they somehow leapfrog both Minnesota and St. Louis, they would play the Pacific Division champion Vegas Golden Knights as the first wild card team.

The NHL regular season wraps up on Thursday, with the Stanley Cup Playoffs scheduled to begin Saturday.

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