Calgary Flames Just One Win Away From Clinching Playoff Spot

The Calgary Flames are just one win away from clinching a playoff spot. With a win over the LA Kings, the Red Mile could start up again tomorrow.

The Calgary Flames are in quite the comfortable spot right now. With their win over the Colorado Avalanche last night, they have over a 99% chance of making the playoffs. Basically, the only way they won’t make it is if they lose every single game from here on out and the Los Angeles Kings win every single game, then they won’t make it.

But for right now, it looks hopeful (fingers crossed).

Right now, the Flames magic number is at 2. What this means is that every win the Flames have, that number drops down by 1. Every loss in regulation that the Kings have, that number drops down by 1. A loss in OT by any of the teams will drop down by 0.5. Once that number drops to 0, the Flames officially clinch a playoff spot.

Calgary Flames

And who are the Flames playing in their next game tomorrow night?

The LA Kings.

And who also plays for the Kings?

Former Calgary Flames captain Jarome Iginla.

Now, the Kings play tonight and will play tomorrow as well. They play the Edmonton Oilers tonight. If the Kings win tonight, the Flames will have to win in regulation tomorrow to clinch a spot. If the Kings lose in regulation or overtime/shootout, a win in any fashion for the Flames tomorrow night will clinch a spot for them.

Via Calgaryflames.com:

"“We know how close we are,” chipped in will-‘o-the-wisp winger Johnny Gaudreau. “We’ve done a great job here in the last month and a half to put ourselves in the position we are today.“We’ve got to be strong here the last week and a half, two weeks but we’re definitely excited in this locker-room.”“I’m proud of the spot that these guys have put us in,” said boss Glen Gulutzan. “A lot of hard work has gone into this.“Now we need to finish it off.“Good teams get themselves into the playoffs. They don’t wait for help.“We’ll be ready on Wednesday, and hopefully we can move ourselves into a position to get that X.”"

We ran a poll on Twitter earlier today to see how people felt.

Most people think the Flames will clinch tomorrow, some people just love Dougie Hamilton (as they should), then there’s the odd two people who think they won’t, which, you know, rude.

Repeat of history?

If you’ve been a hockey fan, more specifically a Calgary Flames fan, for the last few years, you probably remember the 2014-2015 season. This was the first time that the Flames made playoffs in six years. And they clinched a playoff spot while simultaneously eliminating the defending Stanley Cup Champions.

And who were the defending Stanley Cup Champions?

The LA Kings.

Not only did the Flames clinch a playoff spot on the second last game of the season, but this team, a team who haven’t made the playoffs in six years, managed to do so while eliminating the best team in the league.

I remember how excited I was watching this game and how excited all the guys on the bench were when the team scored that empty-netter goal, basically securing their win.

Also, just look at this little hop by Johnny Gaudreau. A young child who’s excited to go to the playoffs.

I’ll actually be at that game tomorrow with my dad for a birthday present to him. It’ll be a bitter sweet moment for us if they clinch since Iginla’s both of our favorite player, but the Flames are our team. And I’ve never been to a game as important and intense as this, so this will be a fun one. But it’ll be real awkward for Jarome Iginla if the Flames clinch a playoff spot against the Kings again.

Next: Elliott and Johnson headed in Opposite Directions

Will we be seeing a repeat of history tomorrow? Let’s sure hope so.