Tag: Calgary Flames

Whether you’re looking for love or looking to win the Stanley Cup, February is an active month.

Some teams are buying in on false promises that will ultimately end in heartbreak. Others are selling and living the single life.

In either case, most teams will be suited for a stretch run– ’til death do [them] part (or they miss out on the playoffs altogether or are eliminated in the postseason).

So let’s see if it’s a match between your team and finishing first in the divisional standings in this new forecast based on how the league standings were through January 31, 2019.

Before you scroll down to the tinder box that is known as the comment section and go bumbling on how wrong these numbers will be, keep in mind there’s no guarantees with any forecast.

It’s not always about the exact number of points expected on the season, but rather the general trends indicated or “educated” guesses that are shown.

The focus might be on the spread or positioning in the standings more than any specifics. Context is key and nothing’s impossible until it’s mathematically impossible.

Without further ado, it’s time to take a look at the potential dates available for this season.

Projected Standings After Four Months

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

1. p-Tampa Bay Lightning, 130 points (50 GP entering Feb. 1st)
2. x-Toronto Maple Leafs, 110 points (49 GP)
3. x-Montreal Canadiens, 104 points (51 GP)
4. wc1-Buffalo Sabres, 102 points (50 GP)
5. wc2-Boston Bruins, 97 points (51 GP)
6. Florida Panthers, 77 points (48 GP)
7. Detroit Red Wings, 67 points (51 GP)
8. Ottawa Senators, 66 points (50 GP)

In the Atlantic Division the Tampa Bay Lightning are flirting with the President’s Trophy and a 130 point season. But can they take home the best looking person in school or will the Calgary Flames have anything to say about it and steal their date? (more on that later)

The Toronto Maple Leafs are smitten with 2nd place in their division, but searching for the one to take them all the way (to the Cup). Is this the year that it finally happens?

While the Boston Bruins have been coming up short in sealing the deal (they went 6-3-3 in January, which was a marginal improvement from 7-7-0 in December), the Montreal Canadiens have been eyeing the last divisional spot in the Atlantic.

If the Buffalo Sabres can get over their recent dry spell, they’re sure to rebound well and land with the first wild card in the Eastern Conference– successfully reaching the postseason for the first time since 2011.

At the bottom of the division, it’s more of the same– the exact same (standings-wise) from last month.

Metropolitan Division

1. y-New York Islanders, 113 points (49 GP)
2. x-Pittsburgh Penguins, 99 points (50 GP)
3. x-Columbus Blue Jackets, 98 points (50 GP)
4. Washington Capitals, 93 points (50 GP)
5. Carolina Hurricanes, 89 points (50 GP)
6. New York Rangers, 79 points (50 GP)
7. Philadelphia Flyers, 73 points (51 GP)
8. New Jersey Devils, 68 points (50 GP)

Things are looking up for the New York Islanders as they continue to hookup with some top-notch strategy put forth by head coach, Barry Trotz. Robin Lehner has been stellar and everyone’s buying in on being accountable as a team.

Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins are in a long-term committed relationship with making the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but will this one bring another ring to it?

“Don’t go breaking my heart//I wouldn’t if I [actually] tried,” said Sergei Bobrovsky as he let down Columbus Blue Jackets fans with subpar goaltending, despite somehow clinching the last playoff spot in the Metropolitan Division.

The Stanley Cup looks like it will be in another’s arms given the recent stretch of play from the Washington Capitals as the team goes through a breakup with the postseason for 2019.

If things get steamy it’s only because the Carolina Hurricanes are storming and desperately making a charge to quench their postseason thirst.

There’s not much to be said about the bottom three teams in this division either. Even if Carter Hart is stealing hearts in the City of Brotherly Love. Swipe left.

Western Conference

Central Division

1. y-Winnipeg Jets, 116 points (51 GP)
2. x-Nashville Predators, 96 points (52 GP)
3. x-Dallas Stars, 86 points (50 GP)
4. Minnesota Wild, 86 points (50 GP)
5. Colorado Avalanche, 85 points (50 GP)
6. St. Louis Blues, 77 points (49 GP)
7. Chicago Blackhawks, 66 points (51 GP)

The Winnipeg Jets are soaring on cloud nine with the Central Division title this season as the Nashville Predators have hit some bumps in the road throughout the season.

It’s a rocky relationship for the Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche in terms of playoff berths. The spread between the three teams in the latest forecast indicates it’s still anybody’s game and though the Stars are tagged as being above the cutoff line in this display, they aren’t safe and sound.

The St. Louis Blues are creeping their way into a playoff spot in reality, but things could very well go back to the way it was before Jordan Binnington came along as the right man to be number one in Blues fans’ hearts.

Meanwhile, the Chicago Blackhawks might as well consciously uncouple with their expendable assets by the end of the month– if not before.

Pacific Division

1. z-Calgary Flames, 123 points (51 GP)
2. x-Vegas Golden Knights, 108 points (52 GP)
3. x-San Jose Sharks, 103 points (52 GP)
4. wc1-Vancouver Canucks, 88 points (51 GP)
5. wc2-Arizona Coyotes, 87 points (50 GP)
6. Edmonton Oilers, 79 points (50 GP)
7. Anaheim Ducks, 74 points (51 GP)
8. Los Angeles Kings, 65 points (50 GP)

Things are heating up in Calgary as the Flames have not just been good– they’re really good. Calgary continues to surge into a definite number one seed in not just the Pacific Division, but the Western Conference as a whole.

What’s more impressive? The Flames are closing in on the Bolts in the President’s Trophy race. A few odd puck bounces going either way could really hamper what everyone thought Tampa’s all season long.

Meanwhile, the Vegas Golden Knights are feeling lucky as a rematch with the San Jose Sharks is looking more and more like it’s going to happen.

It’s a wild race for the wild card berths in the Western Conference, which means that the Vancouver Canucks and Arizona Coyotes could end up on either side of the fence, depending on what kind of dance partner they’re interested in acquiring at the trade deadline.

Is it time to buy, sell or continue to rebuild?

For the Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings, it’s time to rekindle the spark in their lives.