At the end of the day, it’s the final goal of every NHL team to make the playoffs and win the Stanley Cup, and the Calgary Flames are no different. For a fan, it’s the thrill of a lifetime to watch your team do just that.

For where the Flames currently sit in the standings midway through the season, it may be tough to feel optimistic about the team’s chance to play playoff hockey. You may even be hoping for some more losses for the sake of securing a top draft pick. Even if you’re on Team Tank, you must admit there is a part of you ready to go all out and don the red face paint to support the Flames on a playoff run.

By no means are the Flames out of the playoff picture yet. There could still be many meaningful hockey games to be played down the stretch. It won’t be easy – but following the right path might just awaken the C of Red for another edition of Flames playoff hockey.

Let’s be honest. We’re not even having this conversation if not for the spectacular play of Dustin Wolf to this point in the season.

The Calder hopeful has shown to all who doubted him that you don’t have to be tall to be a successful NHL goalie. With his incredible play-reading ability and quick reflexes, Wolf has stood tall in the net all season.

Securing 14 of Calgary’s 20 wins, Wolf will continue to play a major factor in any hope the Flames have of seeing playoff hockey.

So what does this mean down the stretch? Dustin Wolf has earned the opportunity to see more time in the crease. Enough of the “win and you’re in” kind of mindset. Let the kid play and see what he can do.

With it being likely that Dan Vladar will be traded by the Mar. 7 deadline, the opportunity is there to let Wolf run free.

The Flames will still have recently announced AHL All-Star Devon Cooley to back up Wolf. Cooley can handle one of the games in a back-to-back, and maybe pick up the odd game here and there. But the starter’s net should belong to Wolf.

On every playoff team, there seems to be an unsung hero. Someone who stepped up their game when it mattered most. Usually, the star players step up, but occasionally, it can be someone lurking in the shadows.

Yegor Sharangovich is one player who has shown he’s far better than what he has displayed so far this season. If the Flames want to make it to the playoffs, Sharangovich is one guy they need to get going.

After a 31-goal campaign last year netted him a five-year, $28 million contract, Sharangovich has struggled to find that form again this season. Missing the first three weeks of the year due to a lower-body injury certainly didn’t help him get off to a good start – with only seven goals in 35 games up to this point.

Sharangovich has a wicked shot from the left side and has still seen consistent time on the power play despite the lack of production. Perhaps a current loss of confidence has played partly into his struggles. If Ryan Huska can unlock that offensive ability, the Flames’ bench boss will have a seriously good weapon to use in his arsenal. Sharangovich’s recent two point game against Chicago was certainly a step in the right direction.

Currently sidelined indefinitely, the absence of Connor Zary leaves a large hole down the middle. The Flames need someone to fill that hole and produce points for the team. Sharangovich, who can play at centre, needs to step up his game – if he does, he could add a whole new dynamic to this roster and help propel the Flames to the playoffs.

With the way the standings currently look, the race for the second wildcard spot should ultimately come down to 3-4 teams.

It’s difficult to imagine a scenario where Utah, or any other team below them makes any sort of significant push.

The Vancouver Canucks are the team to look out for. Battered by injuries, the Canucks fell into a slump that has them battling for a playoff position. Now almost healthy, you can expect them to make a push. Barring further injuries, it’s likely the Canucks will be the Flames biggest competition going forward.

With the season series currently 2-1 in favour of the Flames, the final game against the Canucks on Mar. 12 could prove to be crucial.

With plenty of games still to play, the standings could still change quite a bit. The blues are pursuing from behind, and if another team gets hot, the race could come down to teams like the Kings, Stars, or Avalanche.

Nonetheless, the Flames simply cannot rely on other teams in the race to flounder or struggle. The Flames have to take matters into their own hands and go out on the ice and win.

The Flames made themselves known to the rest of the league very early on this season. Starting the year with five wins in six games, the reputation of being fast, physical, and structured became the team’s identity almost immediately.

Even with the offensive struggles they faced early on – going 25 straight games without scoring more than three goals in regulation – the Flames still managed to grind out a record of 10-10-5 in that span. The season could have been lost early on if it wasn’t for hard work and great goaltending.

With the recent offensive resurgence of Johnathan Huberdeau, and production coming from a range of players up and down the lineup, the Flames have shown that each game, they can use all four lines to outwork the opponent to a victory.

Now is not the time to change any of that. Regardless of who may be in or out at the trade deadline, who gets injured, or who gets called up – the mentality has to stay the same. The Flames need to show up and be prepared to grind out a win.

Do you see the Flames’ path to the playoffs? Or is the path so tough and rugged, that it’s time to turn back and think of the draft instead? Let us know in the comments section below!