FGD: It’s Almost Done
11 years ago
Well, we’re here. After an interminable 82 48 game season, your 2012-2013 Calgary Flames will walk out of the Madhouse on Madison tonight for the final time as a group. I feel like the game in 2009 where the Flames blew a 5-goal lead against Chicago in this very building likely spelled the beginning of the end for this era of Flames.
There are two relevant stories tonight:
1.) Is Miikka Kiprusoff going to play in his last game?
2.) Where will the Flames end up finishing in the standings?
Story one has already been resolved – Joey MacDonald has been announced as the starter, so unless he gets yanked, Kipper probably won’t play another game as a Flame.
Number two has become a bit clearer after last night’s results, but it’s not quite there yet. The Flames can no longer catch any of the teams “behind” them, and as such, cannot pick lower than 8th in the upcoming draft.
That might be disappointing for some of you to read, but the reality is this: the Flames are not the 2nd, 3rd or 4th worst team in the league. They’re a team, that when fully healthy, should be picking in the 7-10 range, and that’s probably where they’ll be.
At left are the four teams that can change Calgary’s lottery spot. Obviously, Calgary can’t win tonight if they want to move up a spot (or, they can win but then they have to hope the Oilers win both their games), but even then, moving down looks unlikely as EDM and NSH both have and would have fewer regulation wins (ROWs) than the Flames if they happened to tie the Flames in points. The only non-simple situation is CAR could tie the Flames in ROWs if the Flames won in a shootout and CAR won in regulation – and, Carolina would have the better goal differential: thus, the Flames would pick one spot higher.Super confusing stuff.
Line Up
- Mike Cammalleri – Matt Stajan – Lee Stempniak
- Sven Baertschi – Mikael Backlund – Jiri Hudler
- Paul Byron – Roman Horak – Roman Cervenka
- Max Reinhart – Blair Jones – Tim Jackman
- Mark Giordano – Dennis Wideman
- TJ Brodie – Mark Cundari
- Chris Butler – Anton Babchuk
- Joey MacDonald
Nothing to see here.
The Enemy
- Brandon Saad – Jonathan Toews – Marian Hossa
- Patrick Sharp – Drew LeBlanc – Patrick Kane
- Bryan Bickell – Michal Handzus – Viktor Stalberg
- Marcus Kruger – Andrew Shaw – Michael Frolik
- Duncan Keith – Niklas Hjalmarsson
- Nick Leddy – Brent Seabrook
- Johnny Oduya – Sheldon Brookbank
- Corey Crawford
Well, that Patty Kane Guy is pretty good. Oh, and Jonathan Toews is probably one of the best centers in the league.
Possible Playoff Clinchers
The East’s 8 seeds are all sewn up. The home ice advantage is also decided – PIT, BOS, WSH and MTL will start at home.
In the West, Minnesota can clinch with a win.
Draft Pick Watch
Nashville and Carolina are idle today. Edmonton plays Minnesota at 6 PM MDT.
Sum It Up
It’s been a rough year for the Flames and us, the fans. So, in the last FGD of the year: take something positive from this season and make a note of it in the comments! Let us embrace catharsis as one.
Side note: this is my last game post this year, so I just want to say thanks to everyone who visits, reads and comments on FlamesNation. We may not always see eye to eye, but we always appreciate it when you take the time to voice your opinion.
Game time is 630 PM MDT. Catch it on TSN or Sportsnet 960 The Fan.
Once more, with feeling: Go Flames.
