Flames have an opportunity to spoil the situation for a pair of long-time rivals after playing host to the flightless Ducks
Technically, the Calgary Flames still have three teams which they can overtake to make the playoffs: the Vegas Golden Knights, Nashville Predators and Los Angeles Kings. That’s not an April Fool’s joke, either. Should the Flames run the table in their final nine games (indulge me a moment in this miracle possibility) and any — or all — of those teams sink like stones, the Flames (34-34-5, 73 points) would punch a ticket to the Stanley Cup tournament.
Now, all it takes to officially quash Calgary’s chances is for Vegas and Nashville to earn two points or the Flames to lose two points. As for the Kings, who the Flames beat on Saturday 4-2 to snap their five-game losing skid, it’s a five-point situation.
Now, back to reality. Calgary’s playoff hopes likely will officially be done and dusted this week. En route to that moment an “e” is placed by their name on the table, let’s look at the coming opposition to kick off April.
Tuesday: versus Anaheim Ducks (24-47-4, 52 points)
The quack attack ain’t jack. Anaheim, which only leads the San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks in the overall standings, comes to the Stampede City having lost five straight and with only one victory in its last 13 games (1-11-1). The Ducks are finishing a five-game road trip and have lost the previous four outings by a combined 17-5 count. To their credit, the Ducks actually erased a two-goal, third-period deficit in Vancouver on Sunday, only to surrender a late goal and lose 3-2.
Calgary won the first meeting of the season, a 3-0 road game back in December and has taken seven of the last eight clashes. The teams meet on last time this season in Anaheim on April 12.
The Ducks, who are near the bottom in essentially every category, do have some young talent worth eying up. Mason McTavish is closing in on 20 goals and Leo Carlsson — the No. 2 pick in last year’s draft — is having a solid rookie season with nine goals and 24 points in 48 games, although a couple of injuries have impacted his year.
Thursday: at Winnipeg Jets (45-24-6, 96 points)
Speaking of struggling squads, the Jets snapped a six-game winless skid with a 4-3 comeback win over the Kings. Even so, Winnipeg is a precarious position. After the games of March 20, the Jets were atop the Central Division, one point back of the Vancouver Canucks for top spot in the Western Conference and in the mix for the league’s regular-season crown.
In their seven games, Winnipeg has surrendered 27 goals. It’s a far cry from the club that allowed two or fewer goals in 21 of 22 outings.
Looking at a couple of former Flames who were traded to Winnipeg, Sean Monahan has netted 11 goals and 19 points in 27 games since being acquired from the Montreal Canadiens, while Tyler Toffoli has posted four goals (all coming in a pair of consecutive two-goal outings) and six points in 11 games after being brought in from the New Jersey Devils. He missed Monday's game due to illness.
Calgary has won both meetings this season, both at home. The Flames beat Winnipeg 5-3 in the season opener and also 6-3 on Feb. 19.
Saturday: versus Edmonton Oilers (45-23-5, 95 points)
The final Battle of Alberta of the season. Edmonton visits the St. Louis Blues on Monday having won three straight games. The Oilers have plenty to play for, sitting six points back of the Canucks (with two games in hand) for top spot in the Pacific Division, and with the Golden Knights four points behind them (albeit, Edmonton has two games in hand there, also).
To the surprise of nobody, Connor McDavid is racking up the points down the stretch. In fact, he needs 24 in the final nine games to reach 1,000 for his career. That would be a lofty achievement, and not impossible. Meanwhile, Leon Draisaitl is one goal short of 40 and one point shy of 100 for the season, Zach Hyman has netted 52 goals and Adam Henrique — who was acquired before the trade deadline from Anaheim — has scored three goals in the past five games.
The Flames won their last meeting 6-3 in Edmonton on Feb. 24, which snapped Edmonton’s four-game winning streak in the provincial rivalry.
