Calgary Flames Face Do-or-Die Week in Playoff Push
As the NHL regular season barrels toward its finale, the Calgary Flames are hanging on to playoff hopes by a thread. With just two games remaining, the Flames sit on the outside looking in—but the door to the postseason hasn’t fully closed. A perfect finish and a couple of favorable results from their rivals could send Calgary dancing into the playoffs.
It’s been a season of highs, lows, and everything in between for the Flames. From mid-season slumps to late-game heroics, they’ve kept fans on edge. Now, with the pressure dialed up to eleven, the next 72 hours will determine whether Calgary's rollercoaster campaign ends in heartbreak or hope.
Clinging to Hope
Heading into the final week, the Flames hold 92 points, trailing both the Minnesota Wild (95 points) and the St. Louis Blues (94 points). Crucially, both of those teams have just one game remaining, giving Calgary a narrow but viable shot to jump into a wild card slot—if the stars align.
While Calgary has struggled with consistency this year, they’ve shown flashes of a team capable of doing real damage in the playoffs. And now, with their backs against the wall, the Flames have no choice but to go all in.
The Math: What Needs to Happen
For Calgary to pull off a late-season miracle, they need to check all the boxes:
Win Out
The Flames must win both of their remaining games:
- Tuesday vs. Vegas Golden Knights
- Thursday vs. Los Angeles Kings
Two wins would bring Calgary to 96 points—enough to potentially leapfrog both the Wild and Blues.
Neither matchup will be easy. Vegas is a perennial playoff threat, while Los Angeles is also fighting for positioning. But if there’s one thing this Flames squad has shown, it’s grit in crunch time.
Scoreboard Help
In addition to taking care of business, the Flames need:
- Minnesota to lose their final game vs. Anaheim Ducks
- St. Louis to lose their final game vs. Utah Hockey Club
Neither opponent is a heavyweight, but anything can happen this time of year. One off night from either the Wild or Blues could be Calgary’s ticket to the dance.
Odds and Ends
Despite a gutsy late-season surge—including a clutch win over Minnesota on April 12—the Flames' playoff chances sit at a razor-thin 10.2%, per MoneyPuck.
This team has a knack for defying expectations. When the pressure mounts, Calgary punches back. Young guns have stepped into the spotlight, seasoned vets have delivered in crunch time, and a never-say-die attitude has kept them in the hunt long after the doubters wrote them off.
Final Stretch
The message in Calgary’s locker room is simple: win and hope. It’s a tall order, but not an impossible one. The Flames will need big performances from their stars and a bit of scoreboard magic—but for now, hope is still alive.
Fans will no doubt be glued to the action this week, scoreboard-watching every shift; and for a franchise looking to build momentum for the future, even being in this position is a testament to the team’s character.
The stakes couldn’t be higher—and the final chapter of the Flames’ season is about to be written.
