On The Road Again

Road trips. To most people a road trip is a time to get away. A vacation. An impromptu holiday with a bunch of friends piling into a car and go where the spirit moves you. Many good memories are attached to road trips.

For the Calgary Flames however this road trip is anything but a vacation. Its all business. The Flames go on a crucial four game road swing which could very well determine their playoff hopes. Here’s a breakdown on each game on their travels.

Sunday March 20 vs Anaheim Ducks. Huge game for both teams. The Flames and Ducks each have 83 points and are a single point out of the final playoff spot. The Ducks have two games in hand so the Flames have to get a win here. It won’t be easy however. The Ducks are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games and are playing good hockey. Very difficult start for the Flames.

Monday March 21 vs Los Angeles Kings. The Flames will make the trip down the freeway to face the Kings. The Kings sit in fifth place with 86 points and would love to put the Flames in their rear view mirror. The teams played a thriller on February 5 won by the Kings in a shootout at the Scotiabank Saddledome, a result the Kings would gladly accept again, but the Flames cannot afford.

Wednesday March 23 vs San Jose Sharks. The Flames go up the California coast for a date with the Sharks. The men in teal currently lead the Pacific Division and have been one of the better teams since the All Star break. The Flames have had their problems at the Shark Tank over the years and they must overcome the psychological hurdle of the Tank to keep their season alive.

Saturday March 26 vs Edmonton Oilers. Even though the Oilers are at the bottom of the Western Conference standings the Flames cannot treat this game lightly. The Oil would like nothing more than putting a serious dent into their provincial rivals. This will be the Oilers Stanley Cup so the Flames must be prepared for this test which could be very tricky.

If the Flames can win 3 out of 4 games on this trip they will be in good shape to make the playoffs. However if the Flames lose all 4 games then its time to look at next season.