Welcome to the Game Day Fire Drill, for this, Calgary’s 80th game of the season on April 6, 2010.

You’ve heard it several times before tonight, but this is really actually truly definitely absolutely no-doubt-about-it for sure 100 percent unequivocally you-bet-yer-ass The Biggest Game of the Year. Accept no substitutes.

Calgary sits two points back of Colorado for the last spot, and after tonight we should have a very clear view of what Calgary needs to do over its final two games. The Avs, of course, play the division-leading Canucks in Vancouver, where they haven’t won yet this season. The Flames, obviously, host San Jose, which lost its only game at Calgary just a few weeks ago.

So let’s look at the teams’ remaining schedules: Calgary has San Jose, Minnesota, @Vancouver. Calgary’s record in those venues against those teams this season: 3-2-1. Seven points of 12. Colorado has @Vancouver, @Edmonton, Chicago, LA. Colorado’s record in those venues against those teams this season: 3-3-0. Six points of 12.

What that kinda sorta begins to tell us is what we already knew: Calgary is in tough to make up two points even without Colorado’s game in hand.

Just try to win this one and we’ll move along, I guess.

 

 

The Calgary Flames (40-30-9 for 89 points. Ninth in the West, third in the Northwest) and the San Jose Sharks (48-20-11 for 107 points. First in the West, first in the Pacific).

7:30 p.m. Mountain time and 9:30 p.m. Eastern time. All other time zones should bring guns to Starbucks.

Pengrowth Saddledome, Calgary, Alberta.

Calgary is 20-16-3 at home this year, and are 7-2-0 against Pacific Division opponents in Calgary. The Sharks are 23-14-3 away from home, tied for the most road wins in the league.

Dany Heatley — Only because I picked him to have the most power play goals in the league this year and he’s a couple back of Stamkos, and therefore making me look STUPID.

Patrick Marleau — That’s an awful quiet 43 goals and 81 points from the guy, isn’t it?

Evgeni Nabokov — If you had this guy on your fantasy team you’d be in a world of hurt. He’s given up 39 goals in his last 12 games, and that’s on just 343 shots, a save percentage of .886.

Because this is The Most Important Game of the Year! Enjoy the game, and make worry a lot in the comments section.