Hope: It's a Horrible Thing

The general feeling that some desire will be fulfilled.


This is the definition of hope and the general sentiment that most Calgary Flames fans have endured for quite some time now.

Yes, their mathematical chances are extremely miniscule, but it’s difficult to give up hope even for the biggest cynics like myself if there is still a fighting chance.

I find myself checking the standings nightly (not that this is uncommon) and analyzing every nuance of each team wondering if this happens, and then this happens, and then that happens, then the Flames would only have to win out and they would make it.

What am I on? Someone must have roofied me.

But it’s just that feeling that you hold on to. That feeling that things could happen and that things could actually work out the way you had always hoped.

Iceberg, Right Ahead!

HMCS Calgary Flames?

If the Calgary Flames were a ship, they'd be taking on a lot of water right now; and there might not be enough buckets to keep this one from going down. After last night's overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks, the Flames find themselves in 10th place in the Western Conference, one point back of both 9th place Dallas and 8th place Anaheim.

There are some positives for the Flames as they make their final push however. First and foremost, it is still possible to make the playoffs. If they are able to win six of their remaining eight games, they'll finish with 96 points. That should be enough to make the spring dance. Helping them out, is the "easiest" schedule of any contending team in the West, meaning they play a few games against the basement teams (Edmonton, Colorado, etc.). Also helping them out is the doubt that is most likely rampant amongst fans, pundits and opponents. I say this is a positive, as the Flames have seemed to thrive this season when the chips were down. In December, nobody thought they'd have even a remote chance of making the playoffs and they went on a pretty decent run. Perhaps their most recent set back can be another springboard to take the team to the next level and finish the season on a good run.

Flames beat Stars on back of Kiprusoff

Courtesy AP

On the wings of Mikka Kiprusoff the Calgary Flames escape from Dallas with two points.


In a game that shouldn’t have even made it to the shootout -- you could argue for both the Flames and Stars on this point – the Flames kept their improbable run towards the playoffs afloat with a breathtaking victory.

For the Flames a shorthanded breakaway in the first period by Alex Tanguay, when already leading 3-0, could have put the game out of reach if Tanguay had been able to convert. Instead, the Stars scored one late in the 1st and tied the game up in the middle of the third. The Flames were mightily outplayed in the 2nd (outshot 15-4 in the period) and, if it hadn’t been for Kiprusoff, it could’ve been ugly. The Flames also had a couple of prime chances in OT to end it including a goal mouth scramble but failed to score. No one was surprised when Stajan was the Flames player who was unable to convert.

For the Stars, they had a power play with two and half minutes to go in the game which produced a plethora of quality scoring chances including a blocker/post Kipper save combo that proved crucial in the dying seconds of regulation. Not even mentioning the three on one the Stars had in OT that Kipper managed to stop. Goligoski didn’t get all of it, but Kipper made the save nonetheless.

Calgary Flames Hit Speed Bump in Chi-Town

Courtest Getty images

Losing on the back half of back-to-back games – it’s something that shouldn’t surprise most Flames fans.
With a record of 4-6-1 when playing the night before, the Flames don’t thrive on playing on a near empty tank of gas. Then again, I would venture to guess most teams don’t beg to play two games in as many nights.

The Flames, after giving the St. Louis Blues a thrashing of a lifetime, fell behind on Wednesday night to a much hungrier Chicago Blackhawks team. Unfortunately, the magic comeback attempt wasn’t in the cards this time as Chicago eventually squeezed out a 6-4 win on the shoulders of Jonathan Toews –the best player in the NHL right now.

Flames Roll Into Break

What can I say?
This team is playing great hockey. Led by superb goaltending from Miikka Kiprusoff, special teams prowess, and secondary scoring, the Calgary Flames find themselves two points out of a playoff spot heading into the All Star break.

The power play has figured things out. They have potted six goals on their last 17 chances, which include four goals in their last two games on the man-advantage. The power play is overshadowing the penalty kill in a big way though. They haven’t allowed a PP goal against in their last four contests going perfect on 14 opposition chances. They are consistently keeping the opposing shots to the perimeter and playing solid defence.

Dwindling Playoff Hopes for Flames

5.2%.


That’s the percentage chance, according to sportsclubstats.com, that the Flames have of making the playoffs this year. It went up from 0.2% yesterday with losses to the Kings, Sharks, and Preds last night.

One small step for man...

The Flames also have played equal or less games to those teams they are chasing -- three less than the Ducks, two less than the Hawks and Sharks, and one less than the Avs and Yotes. Call them small consolations to the inevitable fact the Flames will miss the playoffs for the second straight year. The Flames still sit nine points back of 8th spot – like an elephant trying to catch a cheetah, it’s just not going to happen.

But hold the phone, there is more good news...sort of. The Flames sit 6th last in the league, only a point ahead/behind (depends on which side of coin you examine) of 5th last place, which so happens to be the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs – the Flames next two opponents. In case you haven’t realized why this is important, it is because the bottom five teams in the league get entered into the draft lottery for 2011 – a key step in rebuilding a bad hockey team, and the Flames are just that.