Wednesday was the first day in the 2020-21 season where the Calgary Flames could become mathematically eliminated from qualifying for the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Because Montreal didn’t beat Ottawa, the Flames stayed alive on a technicality – if Montreal loses all of their remaining games in regulation and the Flames sweep their final five games, the Flames would tie Montreal at 59 points and eke into the playoffs by virtue of the regulation win tiebreaker (as long as most of their wins were in regulation).

But Montreal plays tonight against Toronto. If Montreal gets a point in any form – a win of any kind or a shootout or overtime loss – they’ll have 60 points, one more than the Flames can possibly earn, and the Flames will be mathematically eliminated from the post-season dance.