Calgary Flames Fail at Using Opportunity to Clinch Playoff Spot

With a win over the Los Angeles Kings, the Calgary Flames could have clinched a spot in the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case.

The Calgary Flames could have clinched a spot last night. Their magic number right now is a 1. Which means that any win by them, that number goes down by 1. Any loss by the Los Angeles Kings, that number goes down by 1. Any OT/SO loss by any of them goes down by 0.5. Once that number reaches 0, the Flames officially clinch a spot.

Last night, they played the Los Angeles Kings. Which means that a win in any fashion (regulation, OT, or shootout), would have clinched a spot for them in the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs.

The Kings had other plans in mind.

Even though the Flames opened up the scoring in what felt like the longest first period ever (so many fights), the Kings managed to score four unanswered and would take this one 4-1. Realistically, the Kings won’t make the playoffs. If the Flames, Nashville Predators, or the St. Louis Blues manage to lose every game until the end of the season AND the Kings win every single game, then they’ll make it. Otherwise, they won’t.

Via Calgaryflames.com:

"“You can see how warm-up went. You can tell there was some intensity there and some animosity,” said former Flame, Jarome Iginla afterwards. “It’s battling.“It’s competing.“I thought both sides, that was part of it. You can feel it right from the drop of the puck, there was some big hits. There was obviously some fights.“I thought it was closer to a playoff game. Those are fun to be a part of – that intensity. The building was going tonight.“We’re do-or-die at this point. Nobody’s giving up.”"

The unfortunate thing for the Calgary Flames is they couldn’t have a repeat of 2015, where they clinched a playoff spot on the second last game of the regular season, while playing the Kings, and simultaneously eliminating the Kings, the defenders of the Stanley Cup, from playoff contention.

And now, the fate could lie in their own hands. But it also lies in the hands of the Kings. If the Kings lose on a non-Flames day, the Flames will clinch. Which somewhat takes the fun out of clinching during a game.

I mean, just look how excited Johnny Gaudreau looks here in 2015 when the Flames scored the empty-netter against the Kings, which basically meant they were in the playoffs for the first time in six years.

not saying anything but just look at how happy Johnny was last time we clinched against the Kings... :') pic.twitter.com/CJsvYbn29Q
— • Eleni • (@IgnitedSoul13) March 28, 2017

Next: Elliott and Johnson headed in Opposite Directions

I’m slightly worried we all jinxed it now. Please Flames. Don’t lose every single game from here on out. We want to see the Red Mile lit up again.