The Calgary Flames' playoff hopes are still technically alive—and they got a tiny boost tonight when the St. Louis Blues dropped a point in an overtime loss. But let’s not sugarcoat it: Calgary still needs to run the table and get help to clinch a wild card spot. And that table includes two of the best teams in the Pacific Division.

Here’s how the race stacks up.

Current Wild Card Race:

Team	GP	PTS	RW	ROW	Remaining Game(s)
Minnesota	81	95	33	41	vs Anaheim (82nd game)
St. Louis	81	94	31	39	vs Utah (82nd game)
Calgary	79	90	29	34	vs SJS, VGK, LAK (3 games)

 

 

What the Flames Need to Do

Let’s be crystal clear. To even have a shot:

• Calgary must win all 3 of their remaining games in regulation.

  • That would leave them with 96 points, 32 RW, and 37 ROW.

But here’s the rub: If St. Louis wins their final game in regulation, they also finish with 96 points, 32 RW, and a superior 40 ROW—winning the tiebreaker. And if Minnesota wins their final game against Anaheim, they finish at 97 points, locking down the first wild card.

Translation: Calgary doesn’t control its destiny. Even if the Flames are perfect the rest of the way, they're still out if:

• St. Louis wins their final game in regulation

• OR Minnesota wins their final game

 

Remaining Schedules: Who Has the Edge?

Calgary Flames

• vs San Jose Sharks (April 13)
  San Jose is last in the West—this is the “gimme” game. Lose this one, and it's curtains.

• vs Vegas Golden Knights (April 15)
  Vegas is stacked and currently pushing to lock down playoff position. They'll be dialed in.

• vs Los Angeles Kings (April 17)
  LA is 2nd in the Pacific and also fighting for seeding. Another tough matchup.

Outlook: Calgary needs to beat two playoff teams and avoid any OT results. That’s a huge task, even with home ice for two of them.

St. Louis Blues

• vs Utah (April 15)
  The new kids on the block. Expansion team. But they’ve been feisty.

Outlook: One game. Win in regulation, and they hold the tiebreaker over Calgary. That game could singlehandedly end the Flames’ season.

Minnesota Wild

• vs Anaheim Ducks (April 15)
  Anaheim is a bottom-feeder. If Minnesota wins (any fashion), they finish with 97 points—unreachable for Calgary.

Outlook: As close to a “banked” win as you can get in this league.

 

Tiebreaker Rules: Why Regulation Wins Matter So Much

If two teams are tied in points, the NHL applies tiebreakers in this order:

1. Regulation Wins (RW)

2. Regulation + OT Wins (ROW)

3. Total Wins

So if Calgary ends tied with St. Louis at 96 points and both have 32 regulation wins, the tie would go to the third tiebreaker: ROW—which St. Louis would win 40 to 37.

 

Bottom Line: It's Grim, But Not Impossible

Calgary’s dream is alive, but it's entirely dependent on:

• Going 3–0, all in regulation

• Hoping St. Louis loses to Utah

• Hoping Anaheim finds a way to upset Minnesota

If any one of those things doesn’t happen, the Flames are done.

So yes—St. Louis losing in OT tonight helped. It kept the door open a crack. But the path forward is incredibly narrow, and the Flames must be perfect just to make it interesting. Every shift, every puck battle, every mistake will matter now.

It’s not just must-win—it’s must-win-in-regulation-while-praying-for-upsets.