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The 2018 Playoff Chase: A tall order
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Photo credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Ryan Pike
Mar 9, 2018, 10:00 ESTUpdated: Mar 9, 2018, 02:57 EST
When last we checked in on the races, the Calgary Flames were hitting the skids. Well, they’ve finally gotten some points and are stringing together some good games. But the clock is ticking and they face an uphill battle to make the playoffs.
Here’s our weekly snapshot of the Western Conference’s playoff race.

Where they stand

(Sorted by points percentage.)
Team
GP
W
Pts
Pct.
ROW
Div
Chances
% Change
Predators
67
44
97
.724
39
CEN
100%
none
Golden Knights
67
43
91
.679
41
PAC
100%
none
Jets
67
41
91
.679
39
CEN
100%
+0.1%
Wild
67
38
83
.619
35
CEN
92.3%
+1.5%
Sharks
67
36
81
.604
32
PAC
84.6%
-1.5%
Stars
67
37
80
.597
33
CEN
72.5%
-7.0%
Kings
67
37
79
.590
35
PAC
86.3%
-2.7%
Ducks
68
34
80
.588
30
PAC
69.6%
+19.6%
Avalanche
67
35
78
.582
34
CEN
55.1%
+8.3%
Blues
67
35
75
.560
32
CEN
19.6%
-10.2%
Flames
68
33
76
.559
31
PAC
19.9%
-8.1%
Blackhawks
68
29
66
.485
28
CEN
0.0%
-0.1%
Oilers
67
29
62
.462
25
PAC
0.0%
none
Canucks
67
25
59
.440
25
PAC
0.0%
none
Coyotes
66
21
53
.402
20
PAC
Out
Eliminated
Nashville, Vegas, Winnipeg and Minnesota are functionally in. The Sharks and Kings have the inside track on the two remaining Pacific Division spots based on points percentage. Dallas, Anaheim, Colorado, St. Louis and Calgary are duking it out for two wild card spots.
The Flames are three points back of Los Angeles for the last wild card spot and four points back of Anaheim for the last Pacific Division spot.

This past week

The Flames lost to the NY Rangers in regulation, lost to Pittsburgh in overtime, then walloped Buffalo in regulation.

This coming week

The Flames play three times before next Friday: they visit Ottawa on Friday, then host the NY Islanders on Sunday and Edmonton on Wednesday.