Team

Betting

FlamesNation has no direct affiliation to the Calgary Flames, Calgary Sports and Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA

The Playoff Chase – April 8 2015

By Ryan Pike

Apr 8, 2015, 14:10 EDTUpdated:

Comments

View image | gettyimages.com

Every Western Conference team has two games left. Calgary can clinch a playoff spot as early as tomorrow. Here’s a quick and dirty glance at the race as it stands this afternoon.

THE TABLE

	GP	ROW	Pts	GR	Pot Pts	Can CGY Catch?	Can Catch CGY?	Remaining Opponents
Ducks	80	42	107	2	111	No	N/A	DAL, ARI
Blues	80	40	105	2	109	No	N/A	CHI, MIN
Predators	80	41	104	2	108	No	N/A	MIN, DAL
Blackhawks	80	39	102	2	106	No	N/A	STL, COL
Wild	80	41	98	2	102	No	N/A	NSH, STL
Canucks	80	40	97	2	101	Yes	N/A	ARI, EDM
Jets	80	35	96	2	100	Yes	N/A	COL, CGY
FLAMES	80	40	95	2	99	N/A	N/A	LA, WPG
Kings	80	37	93	2	97	N/A	Yes	CGY, SJ
Stars	80	35	88	2	92	N/A	No	ANA, NSH
Sharks	80	35	87	2	91	N/A	No	EDM, LA
Avalanche	80	28	86	2	90	N/A	No	WPG, CHI
Oilers	80	19	61	2	65	N/A	No	SJ, VAN
Coyotes	80	19	56	3	60	N/A	No	VAN, ANA

Calgary’s magic number is 1.0 on Los Angeles and 2.5 on Winnipeg.

SCENARIOS

How Can Calgary Catch Minnesota? A combination of seven points gained by Calgary AND lost by Minnesota. This relies upon Minnesota losing at least once.
How Can Calgary Catch Vancouver? A combination of six points gained by Calgary AND lost by Vancouver. Like Minnesota, this relies upon Vancouver losing at least once.
How Can Calgary Catch Winnipeg? A combination of five points gained by Calgary AND lost by Winnipeg. Like the others, this depends on Winnipeg losing, but unlike the others, Calgary controls their own destiny largely. If they beat Winnipeg and get something out of their game with Los Angeles, they can catch (and pass) Winnipeg.
How Can Calgary “Catch” Los Angeles? A win of any kind against Los Angeles or Winnipeg, or any combination of two points gained by Calgary OR lost by Los Angeles. Unlike the teams above, this path does not involve the Flames hoping another team does poorly as a necessity.

Basically, Calgary just needs A SINGLE WIN to clinch, and depending on what happens they could leap-frog some teams above with some help. It’s not probable or likely, but at this point, the entire season hasn’t been.