Calgary Flames hold on to last hope for reaching playoffs this season-NHL News
The Calgary Flames are trying their best to hold on to the last chance for making it to National Hockey League (NHL) playoffs this season.
As a first hope, they must win their remaining four games and also wait for development of a favourable situation on the points table to confirm themselves a berth into the second round.
In the wake of their recent performance, when they have lost five out of last six games, it looks very difficult for them to remain on the course for the playoffs.
Flames with 85 points are four and three points behind the number seventh and eighth positioned teams, the Phoenix Coyotes and Los Angeles Kings, respectively, in the Western Conference.
It is only by going past Coyotes and Kings that Flames will be able to qualify for the postseason. Otherwise, the team’s officials and players know the reality and gravity of the situation.
According to left wing, Alex Tanguay:
"Unless we go out and run the table, we're not going to have a chance. That's certainly not going to be easy but we have to give it our best shot."
One advantage for them is that all the four teams ahead of them until the seventh position have more than one game to play against each other. So, the result of those games could help their chances.
Defenseman, Chris Butler, while commenting on the advantage said:
"That is the one good thing we have on our side is the fact is the teams ahead of us are all playing each other. The only thing you pray for is no three-point games. It's awkward to be cheering for other teams around the league you're
competing against and are in your conference, but we don't really have much of a choice right now."
A sense of frustration and helplessness is already visible on the team, without an apparent answer to the situation they have put themselves into.
Tanguay has conceded that they are really upset over the development of the situation, but still can hope for availing the last chance for playing into the post-regular season phase of the league.
He said the team was hoping for the opponents to falter on the points table and Flames somehow manage to run the table. That is the only possible way left for them, he said.
He added that the foremost task before them is winning all four remaining games.
The five recent losses have increased the team’s difficulties on the way to the second round and they now can only hope for a favourable situation.
Tags: