The Calgary Flames will not be returning to the playoffs this season but, of late, they've been playing like they're gearing up for a playoff run.
The Flames own a 4-1-1 record in their last six and have beaten the likes of Pittsburgh, Nashville and St. Louis - all teams fighting for a playoff spot or division title - in that span. That doesn't even mention the fact that the Flames absolutely dominated the San Jose Sharks in their game yet fell in overtime to due to an unbelievable performance from Martin Jones.
What is most impressive about this stretch is that the Flames have played a good portion of it without the likes of T.J. Brodie and Sam Bennett - two extremely important players both now and in the future.
The Flames will look to continue their strong play tonight against a Colorado Avalanche team desperate for points.
Heading into tonight's game they're just one point ahead of the Minnesota Wild for the 2nd wild card spot in the Western Conference and I'm sure they'd like to give themselves a little more breathing room.
LINEUPS
*doubtful
Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland Colborne - Backlund - Frolik Bouma - Hamilton - Hathaway Bollig - Stajan - Jooris
Giordano - Engelland Hamilton - Jokipakka Wideman* - Nakladal
Ortio
--
Grigorenko - Duchene - Iginla Boedker - MacKinnon - Comeau Mathias - Soderberg - Martinsen McLeod - Mitchell - Skille
Beauchemin - Johnson Holden - Barrie Gelinas - Redmond
Varlamov
Notes
1) On top of providing excellent defense while facing stiff competition at even-strength, Mikael Backlund and Michael Frolik have been producing a lot offensively of late. Both players are riding three-game point streaks and they've combined to record 11 points in that span.
2) Mikkel Boedker took a bit of time to adjust to his new surroundings in Colorado but he's picked it up of late tallying three points and eight scoring chances over his last three games.
3) Bob Hartley eased Jokipakka into the lineup when he arrived in Calgary but the training wheels have been taken off as Jokipakka has averaged more than 21 minutes per over his last four games.
The game is at 9:00 eastern and can be seen on Sportsnet Flames and Altitude.
Recent posts: Don't expect too much from Jokipakka