Loser of Monday's Nashville-Calgary game most likely will see their playoff hopes snuffed
The Calgary Flames and Nashville Predators are essentially staring at an elimination game when they meet Monday in the Saddledome.
In fact, it likely will be the only chance these clubs have to quash an opponent’s Stanley Cup dreams, with both clubs trying to reel in the Winnipeg Jets for the Western Conference’s final wild-card playoff spot and having very little chance of doing so.
Calgary is one point behind the Jets with two games remaining, while Nashville sit three points back of Winnipeg with three games on the docket. Winnipeg also has three games left in the regular season, including Monday’s home clash with the bottom-feeding San Jose Sharks.
If the Jets win, and the result should be known around the middle of the first period of the Calgary-Nashville clash, it will mean the loser of this game will be officially eliminated.
If the Jets win, even the victor of the Calgary-Nashville game is still in Hail Mary territory, but at least they’ll have hope for another day.
The Flames have lost both of the first two meetings with Nashville this season. A third defeat will most likely be the final nail in the coffin.
Here are three keys to watch when the puck drops:
BACKLUND HONOURED: It’s a shame that such a disappointing season for the Flames has put in the shadows an impressive campaign for veteran centre Mikael Backlund. Backlund has set a new high for points, surpassed 900 career games and been the club’s most consistent player through the season. For his efforts, he was lauded as Calgary’s nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.
SOLVING SAROS: Nashville goaltender Juuse Saros has been stellar between the pipes and kept alive the playoff hopes of the Predators, who dealt away players they could before the deadline and has been beset by injuries to the top skaters remaining, among them Roman Josi, Matt Duchene, Filip Forsberg and Ryan Johansen. Over his career against the Flames, Saros has sported a 7-1-1 record with a 2.49 goals-against average and .926 save percentage, including a brilliant 38-save performance in their last meeting back in January.
FLAMES NEED A LEAD: In both meetings this season, the Predators not only scored first but staked leads of 3-0 and 2-0. Those early deficits have been a problem for the Flames especially of late, having surrendered the first goal in five consecutive outings. Nashville’s best hope of winning is to score early and hang on with Saros standing tall. If the Flames can light the lamp first — and even extend a lead — Nashville lacks the kind of firepower to mount many multi-goal comebacks.
