Friday, November 30, 2007
Why yes, it IS panic time
*2005/06 Anaheim Ducks: 8-11-4 thru 23GP
*2005/06 San Jose Sharks: 8-12-4 thru 24GP
*2006/07 Ottawa Senators: 7-11-1 thru 19GP
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This is the rather short list of teams post-lockout who have recovered from lousy starts to make the playoffs. It happens, but not very often.*2005/06 San Jose Sharks: 8-12-4 thru 24GP
*2006/07 Ottawa Senators: 7-11-1 thru 19GP
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Step 1, such as it is, is Stop Losing So Much. The Ducks didn't have any hyper-torrid streaks, but went 34-13-8 over the next 55 games to clinch playoffs. The Sharks and Sens actually took a while to get really good. The Sens went 10-7-0 over the next 17 to get up to 17-18-1, but then had a 40 game stretch where they only had 5 regulation losses. The Sharks went a good-but-not-Wow! 16-9-4 after acquiring Joe Thornton, but followed that with a 20-5-3 streak (in which Jonathan Cheechoo scored 24 goals) to seize a playoff berth.
Those are basically the two routes the Flames can go to make the playoffs (and note that there's ~ zero chance of being in the Top 8 before February). Either:
- (A) Immediately start playing to everyone's highest pre-season expectations
- (B) Be merely above-average for a while, and then go a long stretch playing better than anyone could have imagined
# posted by Matt @ 10:54 am 
Comments:
The Sharks went a good-but-not-Wow! 16-9-4 after acquiring Joe Thornton, but followed that with a 20-5-3 streak (in which Jonathan Cheechoo scored 24 goals) to seize a playoff berth.
I think that latter stretch corresponds pretty well with R. Wilson giving Vesa Toskala the full-time starter's job that year. At least that's what my shady memory tells me.
Not that this changes your larger point, but just FYI, FWIW.
I think that latter stretch corresponds pretty well with R. Wilson giving Vesa Toskala the full-time starter's job that year. At least that's what my shady memory tells me.
Are you teasing Leafs fans with that? Or is there actually a ray of hope?
Perhaps the Battle of Alberta can turn into the "Battle for Draft Position".
I swear to God that this morning was the first time this thought ever crossed my mind: "At least we still have our 1st-round draft pick."
Or is there actually a ray of hope?
Sure, I bet Doug Wilson will be trading Joe T. to the Leafs any day now, then watch out!
If we are going to have any chance of pulling into a playoff spot this year, we're going to need a healthy defense. Did you look at the numbers last night? Tim Ramholt only played 2 shifts for 45 seconds, which didn't surprise me, but even Hale only had a little over 5 minutes. If Keenan doesn't trust our #7 guy with 10 or 15 minutes even when he is already down one defenseman, we are in big trouble. If only we had a young d-man with good passing skills and some potential that could really pick up the slack.
Remind me again why we signed Hale and let Giordano go?
We currently have 23 points in 26 GP. 100 points will lock in a playoff spot. (Debatable, I know, but good enough for now.) So we need 77 points in 56 games, which means we need a win rate of .6875, a little over 2/3. Our best stretch, from our first win in Dallas to our last win before the 5 game skid, was .777.
Remind me again why we signed Hale and let Giordano go?
Because Giordano still needed to prove himself as an NHL player, whereas Giordano something something [trails off while walking away].
Reminds me of a quote from Reaugh's blog, this was a bit before they acquired Thornton that year iirc.
Ron Wilson (SJ)…During a stretch where his goaltending wasn't getting job done he was asked whether his team was missing something. "Ya, saves"
I've gone from confident that the Flames would be a force in the playoffs, to 'gee, I hope they make the playoffs', to realization that they probably won't make the playoffs, to the realization that the most painful outcome is for the Flames to pull an 'Avalanche' 07 finish; play well went it doesn't mean anything, still miss the playoffs, and get a middle of the pack draft.
at least many expected the Oil to be bad given the inexperience and being the second-youngest team in the league
what the Flames excuse? not injuries, not rookies (3rd oldest team in the league I believe)...they have a lot of vets locked up for a long time so its clear Sutter doesn't want a high draft pick
either way, it's nice to to see the Falmes struggle...especially since they have no "young gun" coming up in the system
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The Sharks went a good-but-not-Wow! 16-9-4 after acquiring Joe Thornton, but followed that with a 20-5-3 streak (in which Jonathan Cheechoo scored 24 goals) to seize a playoff berth.
I think that latter stretch corresponds pretty well with R. Wilson giving Vesa Toskala the full-time starter's job that year. At least that's what my shady memory tells me.
Not that this changes your larger point, but just FYI, FWIW.
I think that latter stretch corresponds pretty well with R. Wilson giving Vesa Toskala the full-time starter's job that year. At least that's what my shady memory tells me.
Are you teasing Leafs fans with that? Or is there actually a ray of hope?
Perhaps the Battle of Alberta can turn into the "Battle for Draft Position".
I swear to God that this morning was the first time this thought ever crossed my mind: "At least we still have our 1st-round draft pick."
Or is there actually a ray of hope?
Sure, I bet Doug Wilson will be trading Joe T. to the Leafs any day now, then watch out!
If we are going to have any chance of pulling into a playoff spot this year, we're going to need a healthy defense. Did you look at the numbers last night? Tim Ramholt only played 2 shifts for 45 seconds, which didn't surprise me, but even Hale only had a little over 5 minutes. If Keenan doesn't trust our #7 guy with 10 or 15 minutes even when he is already down one defenseman, we are in big trouble. If only we had a young d-man with good passing skills and some potential that could really pick up the slack.
Remind me again why we signed Hale and let Giordano go?
We currently have 23 points in 26 GP. 100 points will lock in a playoff spot. (Debatable, I know, but good enough for now.) So we need 77 points in 56 games, which means we need a win rate of .6875, a little over 2/3. Our best stretch, from our first win in Dallas to our last win before the 5 game skid, was .777.
# posted by 
: November 30, 2007 1:42 pm
: November 30, 2007 1:42 pm Remind me again why we signed Hale and let Giordano go?
Because Giordano still needed to prove himself as an NHL player, whereas Giordano something something [trails off while walking away].
Reminds me of a quote from Reaugh's blog, this was a bit before they acquired Thornton that year iirc.
Ron Wilson (SJ)…During a stretch where his goaltending wasn't getting job done he was asked whether his team was missing something. "Ya, saves"
I've gone from confident that the Flames would be a force in the playoffs, to 'gee, I hope they make the playoffs', to realization that they probably won't make the playoffs, to the realization that the most painful outcome is for the Flames to pull an 'Avalanche' 07 finish; play well went it doesn't mean anything, still miss the playoffs, and get a middle of the pack draft.
# posted by : November 30, 2007 5:17 pm
: November 30, 2007 5:17 pm at least many expected the Oil to be bad given the inexperience and being the second-youngest team in the league
what the Flames excuse? not injuries, not rookies (3rd oldest team in the league I believe)...they have a lot of vets locked up for a long time so its clear Sutter doesn't want a high draft pick
either way, it's nice to to see the Falmes struggle...especially since they have no "young gun" coming up in the system
Post a Comment
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