Flames head to the Golden State to face two other also-rans as well as the Kings before returning home and clashing with the Desert Dogs
We’re almost there. Only a six-pack of games are on the docket in the disappointing season for the Calgary Flames. Less than two weeks remain before the 2023-24 season of upheaval can be concluded and we can look towards what the off-season brings before puck drops on the 2024-25 campaign.
The Flames (34-34-5, 73 points) sit 25th overall — or eighth from the bottom, the more important way to look at the standings going forward — with a four-point gulf between themselves and the 24th-place Seattle Kraken. Just as interesting is how the Ottawa Senators are one point back, the Arizona Coyotes are two behind and the Montreal Canadiens are three points in arrears.
Before season’s end, can the Flames drop another spot and improve their odds at the draft lottery? Or two spots? Or three? Honestly, it is unlikely with how soft Calgary’s schedule is going forward, especially compared to that aforementioned trio of clubs beneath them in the standings. But, anything can happen.
As we move one week closer to the finish line, here is a peek at the coming opposition as the Flames play four games in six days in four different cities.
Tuesday: at San Jose Sharks (18-51-8, 44 points)
The Sharks have all but sealed 32nd — a.k.a. last — in the standings, worth the best lottery odds. San Jose has never drafted first overall, but chosen second overall a few times, plucking Pat Falloon (1991), Andrei Zyuzin (1996) and Patrick Marleau (1997).
San Jose owned the second pick in 1993, but traded down instead of taking Chris Pronger or Paul Kariya, and flipped that selection to the Hartford Whalers for Sergei Makarov (who the Flames traded to Hartford a few days ealier), the No. 6 pick (used to take Viktor Kozlov) as well as second- and third-round selections who turned out to be Vlastimil Kroupa and Ville Peltonen. How's that for a cautionary tale about trading down?
Back to today: San Jose won the first meeting of the season, a 6-3 game at the Saddledome in mid-February. The clubs also meet in the season finale in Calgary on April 18.
Thursday: at Los Angeles Kings (41-25-11, 93 points)
The lone team among Calgary’s opposition this week destined for the playoffs is riding a three-game winning streak that has the Kings playing leap-frog with the Vegas Golden Knights (Vegas sits one point back after losing 4-3 and using up a game-in-hand Monday night.)
The Kings, who travel to Anaheim on Tuesday, appears to be righting the ship just in time and were full marks in beating the Canucks 6-3 on Saturday. Los Angeles scored two power-play goals against Vancouver to stake a 2-0 lead less than six minutes into that clash and never looked back.
Calgary won two of the first three meetings, both at home, by 4-2 scores in both affairs, including its last victory on March 30. The Kings won the first clash between the division rivals just before Christmas at home.
Friday: at Anaheim Ducks (25-48-5, 55 points)
Calgary’s current three-game losing skid kicked off with a disappointing 5-3 loss to the Ducks on April 2. (Yes, not disappointing if you are on Team Tank, but certainly disappointing with how little effort was displayed in the defeat.)
Anaheim, which is third from the bottom in the standings and coming off a 6-5 shootout loss to the St. Louis Blues on Sunday, has only two wins in its last 16 games (2-12-2): one against Calgary and one against the Chicago Blackhawks.
This is the third and final meeting of the season — the Flames won a 3-0 game down the road from Disneyland on Dec. 21 — and worth noting is that Calgary has won seven consecutive games in Anaheim, a streak dating back to Oct. 20, 2019.
Sunday: versus Arizona Coyotes (33-39-5, 71 points)
Speaking of teams the Flames have dominated, Calgary has won both meetings so far this season, one at home and one on the road, and claimed 13 of the last 16 clashes.
The Coyotes have won two straight games, having kicked off a five-game road trip with a 5-2 win over the Sharks on Sunday. That victory followed a wild 7-4 home win over the Golden Knights in which Arizona trailed 4-1 with 12 minutes remaining in regulation and scored six unanswered goals.
Crazily enough, this game could have big implications come the draft lottery, depending on the the Flames fare on their California road swing and how the Desert Dogs do on the road against the Kraken, Canucks and Edmonton Oilers before reaching the Stampede City.
