The Calgary Flames are playing meaningful hockey in April. Just not for the reason they were hoping for heading into the season.
The Flames are in the midst of a terrible stretch of hockey where they've won just six times in 21 games and, as a result, they are just three points back of last place.
Who possesses that spot right now? The Edmonton Oilers, of course.
The Oilers have just three games remaining on their schedule so the only conceivable way the Flames can drop below Edmonton in the standings is if they lose to them tonight.
Obviously that is not the goal of the players - you want guys on your team to try and win games - but with the amount of unproven players they have in their lineup, and how poorly the team has played of late, losing is certainly a very real possibility.
That's good news for the Flames as, with so few games to go, losses would help the team's future more than a couple wins will.
LINEUPS
Gaudreau - Monahan - Shinkaruk Bouma - Backlund - Poirier Ferland - Bennett - Colborne Bollig - Stajan - Jooris
Brodie - Hamilton Giordano - Engelland Jokipakka - Nakladal
Ortio
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Maroon - McDavid - Eberle Hall - Drainait - Yakupov Korpikoski - Letestu - Pakarinen Hendricks - Lander - Kassian
Sekera - Fayne Oesterle - Reinhart Nurse - Clendening
Talbot
Notes
1) Over the last two months the Flames and Oilers both rank bottom-7 in 5 v 5 save percentage. In other words: don't expect a goaltending duel in this one.
2) Since February 1st the Oilers have controlled 49% of the shot attempts at full-strength while the Flames have controlled 48.9%. The Oilers have a minus-10 goal differential in that span and the Flames own a minus-9 goal differential. Not much separates these teams; and not for the good.
3) Patrick Maroon seems to have found a good home in Edmonton as he has tallied seven points in his last six games and is now riding shotgun with Connor McDavid.
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