The Calgary Flames are the hottest team in hockey. They have won six in a row, eight of their last 10 and 11 of their last 15. As a result, a team once desperate for points to keep their season alive is comfortably sitting in a playoff spot.
A few notes:
1) The Flames may be 8-1-1 in their last 10 but it's important to keep things in perspective. They haven't played as well as that record indicates.
Over their last 10 games, they have controlled 45.5% of the shot attempts and 44.8% of the scoring chances at full-strength. They have a ridiculous .948 save percentage at 5v5 in that span, which has allowed them to easily outscore the opposition despite being outshot and out-chanced more often than not. If the Flames don't start carrying more of the play the wins won't continue to come as they are right now.
2) I don't want to be a negative nelly, so I will bring a positive outlook as well. On the year the Flames posting respectable numbers in almost every key metric despite the numbers taking a hit of late. Earlier in the year the Flames played some strong games and came away with nothing to show for it. Right now things are evening out, more or less.
Add in the Flames play in a poor division and have a soft schedule upcoming (nine of their next 12 are vs non-playoff teams) and there is certainly plenty of reason to be optimistic about their playoff chances.
3) I don't blame the Flames for riding Chad Johnson while he is hot -- the run he is on right now is similar to what we saw from Andrew Hammond a couple years ago -- but at some point, he is going to cool down a bit and come back to earth. He will still be good then, but obviously not as good as we've seen over the last little while.
That's why I feel it's important to get Brian Elliott involved and back on track sooner than later. As mentioned, they have a soft schedule coming up. Give Elliott a few games and allow him to regain his confidence. They're going to need him at some point.
4) Don't look now but Dougie Hamilton has registered 11 points and 42 shots over his last 12 games while driving possession and playing big minutes alongside Mark Giordano. After Johnson, you could make a case he's been the biggest reason for the team's success of late. They should trade him, though, because he's soft, is not a fit in Calgary and has struggled since becoming a Flame, or something.
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