Here’s how the Flames can stay alive in the NHL playoff race

Calgary Flames' MacKenzie Weegar, centre, celebrates his goal with teammates during first period NHL hockey action against the San Jose Sharks in Calgary on Sunday, April 13, 2025.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)

The Calgary Flames are hoping to keep their playoff dreams alive in another do-or-die matchup at the Saddledome on Tuesday night.

The Flames will face off against the Vegas Golden Knights at 7 p.m. MDT.

Calgary is still in the hunt for a wild card playoff spot, chasing the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues.

With only two games remaining, Tuesday night’s matchup is a must-win.

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“We’ve been in these situations pretty much all year,” head coach Ryan Huska said Tuesday.

“I don’t know if there’s a team that’s played in more one-goal games than we have, or been in situations where the games have been tight as the ones we’ve played in. So, I feel like because of that, it’s nothing different for our players.”

Forward Nazem Kadri says the Flames are treating this game just like any other.

“I feel like we’ve been here so much that it doesn’t even feel any different than any of the other ones,” Kadri said.

“So, from our standpoint, I think that’s great cause we’re poised, we’re relaxed and we understand we’re going to need a great effort tonight to beat a good hockey team.”

Both the Wild and Blues play their final games of the season on Tuesday night, taking on the Anaheim Ducks and Utah Hockey Club, respectively.

The Wild currently hold the first Western Conference wild card spot, with 95 points, a record of 44-30-7, along with 33 regulation wins.

The Blues sit in the final wild card spot with 94 points and a record of 43-30-8, including 31 regulation wins.

With the Flames sitting just outside at 92 points and a record of 39-27-14, including 30 regulation wins, they will need some help from Anaheim and Utah.

According to the NHL, both the Wild and Blues can clinch their playoff spots on Tuesday.

The Wild will lock in their spot in the playoffs if they get a single point against Anaheim or if St. Louis or Calgary lose in any fashion.

The Blues’ path is a bit more complex. They can claim their spot with:

• A regulation win; or
• An OT or shootout win, coupled with the Flames not getting a regulation win or a Wild regulation loss; or
• One point in a loss to Utah and a Flames loss to Vegas in any fashion; or
• A Flames regulation loss to Vegas.

If both teams clinch, the Flames will be eliminated from playoff contention.

Puck drop for both the Wild and Blues games is scheduled for 6 p.m. MDT.

Vegas head coach Bruce Cassidy confirmed several of the team’s top players won’t be suiting up on Tuesday night, including former Flame Noah Hanifin, Alex Pietrangelo, Mark Stone, Jack Eichel and starting goalie Adin Hill.

The Flames will take on the Los Angeles Kings in their final game of the season on Thursday.